PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Intel Corporation has filed a lawsuit against a former employee, accusing him of stealing highly confidential and even “top secret” company files shortly before leaving his job. The tech giant is seeking $250,000 in damages after alleging that the employee, Jinfeng Luo, unlawfully downloaded tens of thousands of files from company systems.
Background on the Case
According to the lawsuit filed on October 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Luo worked at Intel for nearly 11 years as a software engineer specializing in Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. His employment ended in July 2025, following a series of company-wide layoffs.
Intel, headquartered in California with major offices in Oregon, had announced hundreds of job cuts in early July, later increasing that number to more than 2,300 layoffs. Luo was among those whose positions were terminated.
Also Read
Alleged Data Theft
Court documents reveal that Luo was notified on July 7 that his employment would end on July 31. About a week before his final day, Intel’s internal security systems reportedly detected Luo connecting an external hard drive to his work laptop. He allegedly tried to download sensitive data but was blocked by the company’s data loss prevention tools.
However, Intel claims that Luo made another attempt a few days later by connecting a personal Network Attached Storage (NAS) device to his company-issued laptop. Between July 28 and July 31, he is accused of downloading over 18,000 files, including materials marked as “Intel Confidential” and some labeled “Intel Top Secret.”
Company Response and Investigation
Intel’s cybersecurity systems flagged the data transfers, triggering an internal investigation that lasted for two months. During this time, Intel’s Human Resources and Security teams attempted to contact Luo multiple times through phone calls, emails, certified letters, and even his emergency contact, but received no response.
Investigators eventually found two potential addresses linked to Luo, one of which was in Portland, and sent additional letters there, but he still did not respond.
Legal Action
The lawsuit accuses Luo of breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unauthorized possession of confidential information. Intel alleges that the stolen files contained proprietary business data and research material that could cause significant harm if disclosed or shared with competitors.
A spokesperson for Intel declined to comment further, citing the ongoing litigation. Efforts by KOIN 6 News to contact Luo were unsuccessful, as he has not responded publicly to the allegations.
Ongoing Concerns Over Corporate Data Security
This case highlights the increasing risks companies face during mass layoffs, as access to sensitive information remains a key vulnerability point. Major technology firms, including Intel, rely heavily on strict data loss prevention systems and employee monitoring to safeguard trade secrets.
The lawsuit remains pending in federal court, with Intel seeking compensation and potential injunctions to prevent Luo from using or distributing the data allegedly taken.
If proven true, the case could serve as a warning to both employees and corporations about the importance of cybersecurity and intellectual property protection, particularly in industries driven by innovation and competition.
