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There are many examples of such phenomenon throughout history. However, there are always economic incentives for those with knowledge to strike out on their own to increase their personal gain. That’s generally why such knowledge-monopolies end. An example of this is how textile machines were built in the US by memorizing plans from Britain.

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Making a textile factory is a lot less capital intensive than a semiconductor fab.

Think in terms of available capital at the time, and availability of the requisite skilled labour and technical knowledge.

That lacks something of the "so what" follow up. TSMC is in the usual economic vice.

1) If they charge a lot and don't innovate, then there will be a huge reward waiting for whoever invests capital to compete with them.

2) If they are innovative and cheap, then they can fend off competition and nobody cares because they are innovative and cheap.

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