Polyurethanes having hyperbranched structures, selected from hyperbranched polyurethanes containing at least one pigment affinity group and modified hyperbranched polyurethanes, are used as polymeric dispersing additives for pigments. A preferred process for preparing modified polymeric dispersing additives comprises reacting a hyperbranched polyurethane having from 2 to 100 NCO groups and a molar mass of from 500 to 50,000 g/mol with one or more polyether derivatives.