US approves Samsung, SK Hynix chipmaking tool shipments to China for 2026, sources say

Snippet of Article: "...Samsung, SK Hynix (000660.KS), opens new tab and TSMC (2330.TW) , opens new tab had benefited from exemptions to Washington's sweeping restrictions on chip-related exports to China. But the privilege known as validated end user status will end on December 31, meaning shipments of American chipmaking tools to their factories in China after that date will require U.S. export licences. Samsung and SK Hynix declined to comment while TSMC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Department of Commerce was not immediately available for comment outside business hours. ..."

Source: www.reuters.com

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Ten former Samsung employees arrested for industrial espionage charges for giving China chipmaker 10nm tech — executives and researchers allegedly leaked DRAM technology to China-based CXMT

Snippet of Article: "...The leak allowed CXMT to produce China’s first 10-nm DRAM in 2023, with prosecutors arguing that the stolen technology laid the groundwork for the Chinese company’s advancements in HBM. CXMT reportedly began mass production of HBM2 memory in 2024, and that it’s expected to capture as much as 15% of the market, resulting in trillions of losses in Korean Won for both Samsung and South Korea’s national economy. This can arguably be seen already as Samsung Electronics’ sales declined by about 5 trillion Won last year.

Reports indicate that a Mr. A, a former Samsung executive, was in charge working on 10-nm DRAM technology for CXMT, while Mr. B, a key employee involved with the research on the technology allegedly copied information on DRAM manufacturing. ...This isn’t the first time that employees of South Korean tech firms have been arrested for stealing information for Chinese companies. "

Source: www.tomshardware.com

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