Crowdfunding

The future of the handpan is at stake.

For over five years, makers and players from around the world have fought a legal battle to protect the freedom to build, play, and share handpans.

In 2020, PANArt, creator of the original Hang®, claimed copyright over four basic features found in nearly every handpan — the round shape, the central dome (Ding), the bottom port (Gu), and the circular tone fields.
If successful, this would restrict or even end handpan making entirely.

Approaches of personal communication and a search for a bi-lateral understanding were unfortunately always turned down by PANArt.

Countless handpan makers and shops were targeted by PANArt and to defend the community, we formed Handpan Community United (HCU).
After years of scientific work, legal arguments, hearings and over €1.1 million in legal costs, the court in Bern ruled that the Hang® is a “work of art.” leaning towards granting a copyright for the Hang®. This decision is not final. Now, the next phase is underway and it will decide if handpans can remain free. 

We work tirelessly to make sure we have the best arguments on our side. This fight isn’t over, and we stay hopeful that the court will rule in our favor and narrow a possible scope of protection for the Hang® as small as possible to keep the Hanpan alive.

The parties involved are the ones on the frontline but the whole community, every maker, musician and listener will be impacted by the outcome of this case. We can no longer carry this alone. We need your help.

Please donate and share this campaign to help us protect the freedom, creativity, and love that the handpan stands for.”

For everyone who is interested, please refer to the resources on the HCU website at https://hcu.global/resources/