Alan Patterson, EETimes
2/6/2015 09:28 AM EST
TAIPEI — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest chip foundry, is suing a former R&D employee on the suspicion that he leaked secrets including but not limited to 28 nm process technology to Samsung. South Korea’s largest company is a growing competitor in the foundry business.
“We brought the lawsuit because TSMC Chairman Morris Chang and senior management were convinced we needed to send a message to Samsung, employees and other competitors,” Dick Thurston, former chief counsel for TSMC, told EE Times. “The initial technology they focused on was 28 nm.”