Court sentences a former TSMC engineer to 10 years in the 2 nm trade-secret case; Tokyo Electron's unit is fined

TSMC/N2 process

A Taiwanese court sentenced former TSMC engineer Chen Li-ming to 10 years for obtaining 2 nm etching know-how from TSMC staff to help Tokyo Electron Taiwan win equipment orders; three other TSMC employees received 2 to 6 years. Tokyo Electron Taiwan was fined NT$150 million, the first case against a company under Taiwan's national-security rules on core technology.

• Chen Li-ming (ex-TSMC): 10 years; Chen Wei-chieh, Wu Ping-chun, Ko Yi-ping (TSMC employees): 6, 3, 2 years respectively.
• Between mid-2023 and mid-2025, Chen solicited confidential technical details and shared them to secure equipment contracts.
• Tokyo Electron Taiwan fined NT$150 million; violation of National Security Act and unauthorized acquisition of core technologies.