Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
ASML headquarters in Veldhoven
ASML headquarters in Veldhoven - Credit: Photo: A ansems/Wikimedia Commons
Business
Crime
ASML
China
Samsung
Peter Wennink
corporate espionage
trade secrets
XTAL
South Korea
Wednesday, 17 April 2019 - 12:00
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Not China, but Samsung behind espionage at ASML, CEO suggests

It wasn't the Chinese government, but South Korean tech company Samsung that was behind corporate espionage at Dutch chip machine maker ASML, CEO of the Dutch company Peter Wennink suggested in an interview with broadcaster NOS.

After it became clear that someone was stealing trade secrets from ASML in the United states, ASML hired a company to find out who was behind it. The stolen software ended up with ASML's competitor Xtal, which was financed by both China and Korea. No evidence was found that the Chinese government was involved, Wennink said.

"There is no hundred percent certainty. We have not found any evidence of any connection with the Chinese government. What we have found evidence for is that the products were stolen by people of American and Chinese nationality, with a Chinese background, and that those products were used to provide services to our largest Korean customer", Wennink said.

According to NOS, he is very likely referring to Samsung. The company "enthused" the spies to steal software from ASML and start their own business, thereby creating a competitor for ASML. The stolen software is needed to set up chip machines for optimum production of electronic chips. In 2016, Samsung became a 30 percent shareholder in Xtal, and ASML subsequently lost Samsung as a customer for this software.

Samsung Nederland was not available to comment to NOS on Tuesday night.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Elderly couple seriously injured after attack by neighbor in Amsterdam
  • 2,000 people join class action lawsuit against Tata Steel
  • Ajax-Feyenoord abandoned after crowd unrest
  • Party for the Animals wants to put internal conflict behind at conference
  • Nails and screws scattered on road to hinder Woudenberg Cycling Tour
  • Thousands of people visit asylum seeker centers on national "Neighbor's Day"

Top stories

  • 2,000 people join class action lawsuit against Tata Steel
  • Criminals use cash trap at ATMs in The Hague, people receive no money after withdrawal
  • COA confirms sufficient reception places for asylum seekers early next week
  • More than 500 climate activists arrested during A12 blockade
  • COA expects reception for all asylum seekers this weekend
  • Climate activists block A12 in The Hague for fifteenth day in a row, removed by police

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content