In a significant move in 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated a case against the Chinese mainland’s Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit, a state-owned semiconductor company. The DOJ accused Fujian Jinhua of intellectual property theft and economic espionage, alleging that the company conspired to steal trade secrets from American chipmaker Micron Technology, a key player in the global semiconductor industry.
Micron Technology claimed that Fujian Jinhua, in collaboration with its Taiwan partner United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), illicitly obtained proprietary information related to dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) technology. The DOJ alleged that Fujian Jinhua intended to utilize this "stolen" technology to develop its own DRAM chips, posing a threat to U.S. economic and national security interests.
This case highlights the escalating tensions between the United States and China over technology and trade, particularly within the semiconductor sector. The allegations against Fujian Jinhua underscore concerns about China's pursuit of technological self-sufficiency and its efforts to compete with established industry leaders. The situation raises important questions about fair competition, the protection of intellectual property rights, and the broader implications for national security.
Reference(s):
Fujian Jinhua verdict speaks to DOJ's self-defeating practices
cgtn.com
