Trending Now - Ex-tokyo Electron Engineer Gets 10 Years for TSMC Data Theft
WHO:
ABC News - Chen Li-ming, a former employee of Tokyo Electron.
ABC News - Tokyo Electron, a Japanese computer chip equipment maker.
ABC News - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (TSMC), Taiwan’s leading chipmaker.
WHAT:
AP News - Tokyo Electron was fined 150 million new Taiwan dollars ($4.8 million), which is a different amount than previously reported.
AP News - TSMC stated it “maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any actions that compromise the protection of trade secrets or harm the company’s interests” and that such violations “are dealt with strictly and pursued to the full extent of the law.”
ABC News - A Taiwanese court sentenced Chen Li-ming to 10 years in prison for stealing TSMC's trade secrets.
ABC News - Tokyo Electron was fined 150 million new Taiwan dollars (approximately $5 million).
ABC News - Four other individuals were sentenced to up to six years in jail for their involvement in the case.
WHERE:
ABC News - The sentencing took place at Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
WHEN:
ABC News - The court ruling occurred on a Monday, with the indictment of Chen and others taking place in August.
WHY:
ABC News - Chen's motivation for stealing trade secrets was primarily to “improve his personal work performance,” according to Judge Chang Ming-huang.
ABC News - The case underscores Taiwan's efforts to protect its advanced technology and semiconductor sector, which are vital for its economy.
HOW:
ABC News - Chen accessed and collected TSMC's trade secrets by using his relationships with former colleagues, photographing and copying materials to assist Tokyo Electron in upgrading its technologies and improving its bids as a TSMC supplier.
ABC News - Tokyo Electron stated it had dismissed an employee involved in the case and conducted an internal investigation, which did not confirm evidence of a leak of confidential information.
(UPDATED April 27, 2026 17:24 UTC)
Tokyo Electron has been fined 150 million new Taiwan dollars, which is approximately 4.8 million dollars, a figure that differs from earlier reports. In response to this situation, TSMC emphasized its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding any actions that could jeopardize trade secrets or harm the company's interests. The company stated that violations of this nature are taken seriously and pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
--
(UPDATED April 27, 2026 11:30 UTC)
A Taiwanese court has sentenced Chen Li-ming to ten years in prison for stealing trade secrets from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., with four other individuals receiving sentences of up to six years for their involvement in the case. Tokyo Electron, the Japanese computer chip equipment maker linked to Chen, was fined 150 million new Taiwan dollars, roughly five million dollars, although the company stated it found no evidence of a leak during its internal investigation. The court ruling, which took place at Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court in New Taipei City, highlights the country's commitment to protecting its vital semiconductor sector.