A legal battle has emerged between Christian metal band Demon Hunter and streaming platform Netflix over alleged trademark infringement linked to the popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” The lawsuit, filed on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims that the film’s title is causing confusion as it closely resembles the band’s trademark owned by Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter.
The legal representatives for Hyde Lane Inc. argue that Netflix’s use of the name “KPop Demon Hunters” infringes on Demon Hunter’s established brand. Formed in Seattle in 2000 by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark (who later left the band in 2009), Demon Hunter has a significant musical presence, having released 13 albums, with a total equivalent of one million albums sold when streaming figures are included. Their latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” was launched in 2025.
Netflix released “KPop Demon Hunters” in June 2025, portraying the story of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group engaged in demon hunting activities. The film has become Netflix’s most-watched production, garnering over 325.1 million views by March. However, following the movie’s release, Demon Hunter has encountered instances where individuals have mistaken the band for the characters in “KPop Demon Hunters.”
One incident highlighted in the complaint involved a parent requesting a concert ticket refund in February after mistakenly purchasing tickets for a show they thought was related to “KPop Demon Hunters.” In another mix-up, an erroneous interview inquiry from the TV program “Inside Edition” was directed towards Demon Hunter’s manager, mistaking the band’s involvement with an Oscar-winning songwriter featured in the film.
The complaint further notes the misuse of the hashtag #DemonHunter on social media posts related to “KPop Demon Hunters.” The legal representation for Demon Hunter emphasized that Netflix’s use of the term “KPop Demon Hunters” infringes on the band’s trademark rights, drawing parallels to hypothetical scenarios involving iconic bands like Metallica, U2, or Black Sabbath.
While John Tehranian, the band’s lawyer, declined to comment, Netflix stated its intention to contest the lawsuit, dismissing the allegations as unfounded. The streaming platform highlighted the global success of “KPop Demon Hunters,” a production that has resonated with audiences worldwide through its music, storytelling, and characters, expressing readiness to vigorously defend its position in the legal dispute.