Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, commonly known as TSMC, is a Taiwanese multinational semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang, TSMC pioneered the dedicated semiconductor foundry business model. Headquartered in Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan, it is a publicly traded company listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2330) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TSM). As of December 31, 2025, TSMC employed 90,557 individuals. The company reported an annual revenue of approximately $122.271 billion USD for 2025 and holds a significant global market capitalization.

TSMC is the world's largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry, manufacturing integrated circuits for its fabless semiconductor company customers. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of wafer fabrication processes, including CMOS logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency (RF), embedded memory, and Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD-Power) processes. These advanced technologies, which include leading-edge 3-nanometer and 5-nanometer production capabilities, serve various end markets such as high-performance computing, smartphones, the Internet of Things (IoT), automotive, and digital consumer electronics.

In terms of patent litigation, TSMC operates as an operating company that actively defends its technology and customers. While the provided data shows one instance as a plaintiff in a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) case, this aligns with TSMC's strategy of using PTAB proceedings to challenge the validity of patents asserted against them or their clients. The company states it relies heavily on inter partes reviews before the PTAB to protect itself and its customers against meritless patents, particularly those asserted by Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs).

The sole tracked case, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd. v. Advanced Integrated Circuit Process LLC, filed in the PTAB in July 2025, is likely a defensive action. Advanced Integrated Circuit Process LLC (AICP) is a patent assertion entity that acquired patents from Winbond Electronics (Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan) and has filed infringement lawsuits against TSMC in the Eastern District of Texas. This PTAB petition by TSMC is a common response to such infringement claims, aiming to invalidate the asserted patents.