2026-09-16 11:32 China Times News Network
(By Hsiao Yu-tong)
A senior engineer at TSMC, pseudonymously referred to as “Ah-Kai,” used his mobile phone at home to photograph confidential company files—including the “BCD Process Technology Training Materials”—and saved the reproduced files to his personal computer before resigning just three days later. TSMC’s internal audit detected the anomaly and immediately filed a formal legal complaint, prompting an investigation by the Investigation Bureau. The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court concluded the trial, sentencing him under the Trade Secrets Act to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and ordering him to pay NT$300,000 to the public treasury alongside strict non-compete conditions.
According to the ruling, Ah-Kai had served as a senior engineer at TSMC since July 2019, where he was responsible for power IC project process development. He was fully aware that he had signed an employment contract pledging confidentiality, routinely underwent online training and testing, and was familiar with TSMC’s confidential information protection policies and information security protocols. Under these rules, access was strictly governed by the “Need to Know” principle, prohibiting anyone from copying or removing undisclosed technical trade secrets beyond authorized bounds.
However, while planning his resignation, Ah-Kai remotely connected to the company server’s M-drive storage from his TSMC-issued laptop at his Hsinchu home around 7:00 PM on December 10, 2024. While viewing confidential files such as the “BCD Process Technology Training Materials,” he snapped photos of the monitor screen with his phone and duplicated the trade secrets onto his personal computer.
Three days later, Ah-Kai formally submitted his resignation. TSMC’s internal audit caught the anomaly during a review and immediately filed a complaint with the Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau’s Hsinchu City Station subsequently executed a search to investigate the case.
During trial at the Intellectual Property Court, Ah-Kai made a full confession. Given that he had no prior criminal record and demonstrated a cooperative attitude, the court ruled that the offense stemmed from a momentary lapse in judgment. He was convicted under the Trade Secrets Act for exceeding authorized access to duplicate trade secrets in his possession, receiving a one-year prison sentence suspended for a two-year probation period. During probation, he must pay NT$300,000 to the public treasury, attend two legal education courses, and is strictly prohibited from working for or providing services to rival semiconductor wafer enterprises or poaching TSMC employees. He is also required to periodically submit written status reports regarding his employment to TSMC’s General Counsel; failure to comply will result in the revocation of his probation. The case remains subject to appeal.