4. February 2026 - A HANG, what is that? The legal dispute over a musical instrument from Bern is causing trouble worldwide – Article in one of Germany’s most renowned newspapers, “Die Zeit,” on the legal dispute between HCU and PANArt
A HANG, what is that? The legal dispute over a musical instrument from Bern is causing trouble worldwide – Article in one of Germany’s most renowned newspapers, “Die Zeit,” on the legal dispute between HCU and PANArt published (german).
This unique musical instrument, which is a familiar sight in many places, looks like a UFO and sounds like a mixture of a bell and a harp: a hang. If you don’t have a picture in your mind, just google “hang handpan.” Exactly! And if you think this instrument must have been invented by Chinese monks, you’re wrong. Hang is Bernese German for “hand,” and the international handpan scene is currently looking to Bern. The cantonal commercial court will decide what a hang actually is—and who is allowed to manufacture it.
https://www.zeit.de/2026/06/musikinstrument-hang-bern-handpan-urheberrecht