Tokyo Electron Taiwan Faces New Charges in Expanding TSMC Theft Case

Taiwanese prosecutors have escalated legal actions against Tokyo Electron Taiwan and three individuals in a high-profile trade secrets case involving TSMC. New indictments reveal deeper layers of alleged corporate espionage, with cloud-stored data and destroyed evidence complicating the proceedings.

Two former TSMC employees and one ex-Tokyo Electron Taiwan staffer now face potential prison terms ranging from one to nearly nine years. The discovery of proprietary data in company-linked cloud systems has significantly strengthened the prosecution's case, while attempts to delete digital evidence have drawn additional scrutiny.

The unfolding scandal highlights growing tensions in semiconductor intellectual property protection, particularly as Taiwan seeks to safeguard its technological crown jewels. With sentencing recommendations now formalized, the case may set important precedents for trade secret enforcement in Asia's critical chipmaking sector.