A Christian metal band named Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix for trademark infringement concerning the popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters”. In a complaint filed on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, attorneys representing Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, argue that the film’s title bears a resemblance to the band’s trademarked name.
The complaint asserted that the lawsuit highlights the issue of large corporations prioritizing their own intellectual property rights over those of others to maximize profits. Demon Hunter was founded in Seattle in 2000 by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark, who later departed from the band in 2009. With a discography of 13 albums and sales exceeding a million units, including streaming figures, Demon Hunter’s latest album, “There Was a Light Here”, was released in 2025.
Netflix premiered “KPop Demon Hunters” in June 2025, narrating the story of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group engaged in demon-hunting activities. The movie has become Netflix’s most-watched film, amassing over 325.1 million views by March. Following the film’s debut, Demon Hunter encountered instances of mistaken identity, with individuals confusing the band with characters from “KPop Demon Hunters”.
An incident in February involved a parent mistakenly purchasing tickets for the wrong event, believing they were for a “KPop Demon Hunters” concert. Subsequently, another mix-up occurred when a producer from “Inside Edition” sought an interview with a non-existent member of Demon Hunter, based on misconceptions from the movie. Social media interactions also reflected confusion, as users mistakenly tagged content with #DemonHunter when referencing “KPop Demon Hunters”.
The complaint emphasized that Netflix’s use of the “KPop Demon Hunters” title infringes on Demon Hunter’s trademark rights, drawing parallels to hypothetical scenarios involving established musical acts like Metallica, U2, and Black Sabbath. Legal representation for the band, John Tehranian, declined to provide comments at this time. In response, Netflix issued a statement to CBC News, refuting the allegations and expressing its intent to vigorously contest the lawsuit. Netflix praised the global success of “KPop Demon Hunters”, highlighting its impact on audiences worldwide through its music, storytelling, and characters.