An engineer who moved from Intel to rival chip maker AMD has been accused by the FBI of nicking top secret files on the way out the door.
According to FBI agent Timothy Russell, an ex-design engineer at Intel's Hudson plant named Biswahoman Pani thought he might try impress his new bosses at AMD by copying a raft of classified Intel design documents before scooting over to his new job.
According to the filing in the Boston US District Court, 13 files containing over 100 pages of top secret documentation and 19 drawings were found during a search of Pani's house in July.
The FBI was tipped off by another Intel employee who, on discovering Pani's planned move to the competition, ordered a log of his system access before he left.
"Intellectual property is a critical asset for Intel," said spokesIntel, Claudine Mangano.
"We basically asked the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate activities, and we are cooperating with that investigation."
The affidavit also let AMD off the hook, saying the investigation had found no evidence that the company had encouraged or even knew of Pani's alleged industrial espionage. There is also no evidence that it got its hands on the designs either.
Thus far Pani's attorney, Bradford Bailey, has said his client "maintains his innocence and plans to vigourously defend against these accusations."
Pani was not taken into custody, but has been ordered to give up his passport and now no longer works at either AMD or Intel.