The synthesis and photopolymerization of alkaline-developable hyperbranched polyurethane (HBPUMA-COOH) were examined. The reaction of dicyclohexylmethane 4,4'-diisocyanate (CMDI) and trimethylolpropane (TMP) in the presence of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl isocyanate (MOI) was carried out to give the soluble hyperbranched polyurethane (HBPUMA) with terminal methacryloyl groups in satisfactory yield. After that, HBPUMA-COOH was synthesized by the reaction of HBPUMA and cis-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (THPA). The photoradical polymerization of HBPUMA-COOH was examined in the presence of 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-2-one (Irgacure 907) as a photoinitiator in the film state upon UV irradiation to afford the corresponding cured film quantitatively. It was found that the tensile strength of the resulting cured film of HBPUMA-COOH was higher than those of the HBPUMA and linear one. The negative patterning property of HBPUMA-COOH also had 5 mu m line and space pattern resolution by UV irradiation with 150 mJ/cm(2). Furthermore, it was cleared that the photocured HBPUMA and HBPUMA-COOH showed very low birefringence.