HIMPP Information

HIMPP members are among the world’s most advanced hearing instrument manufacturers. They develop, manufacture and market over 90% of the hearing technology available to consumers worldwide. The objective of HIMPP is to promote development of advanced and cost effective hearing instruments to benefit the hearing impaired. One of HIMPP’s main missions is to foster innovation in the hearing instrument industry. HIMPP monitors new technological developments and may decide to acquire patent rights in order to make them available to the hearing instrument industry on equal and reasonable terms, either as a partner licensee or as a third party licensee. HIMPP may also acquire patent portfolios for defensive purposes to avoid them falling in the hands of non-practicing entities who might use them against the industry. All HIMPP partners contribute financially to such acquisitions. According to the Articles of association of K/S HIMPP: “The Partnership recognizes the important role of legitimate intellectual property rights in fostering innovation, but also recognizes that patent rights granted without complete knowledge of prior art can hinder rather than help the advance of technology.”