Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix for alleged trademark infringement, asserting that the popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters” has caused confusion among viewers. In a legal 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, claimed that the film’s title closely resembles the band’s trademarked name. The complaint stated that Hyde Lane is the rightful owner of the trademark “Demon Hunter.”
The complaint characterized the lawsuit as a situation where large corporations, while zealously protecting their intellectual property rights, disregard the rights of others for financial gain. Founded in Seattle in 2000 by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark (who later left the band in 2009), Demon Hunter has released 13 albums and achieved significant sales, including streaming equivalents of over one million albums. Their most recent album, “There Was a Light Here,” was released in 2025.
Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” which premiered in June 2025, follows the story of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group that doubles as demon hunters. The movie has become Netflix’s most-viewed film, amassing over 325.1 million views as of March, according to the streaming service. Following the film’s release, Demon Hunter received inquiries from individuals who had mistakenly associated the band with “KPop Demon Hunters.”
A particular incident highlighted in the complaint involved a parent seeking a refund for concert tickets purchased under the mistaken belief that they were for a “KPop Demon Hunters” show. Furthermore, a producer from the TV show “Inside Edition” erroneously contacted Demon Hunter’s manager to arrange an interview with “Yu-Han Lee,” who is a songwriter associated with the movie but not part of the band.
The complaint also mentioned instances where social media users inaccurately used the hashtag #DemonHunter when discussing “KPop Demon Hunters.” The legal filing argued that Netflix had no more right to use the title “KPop Demon Hunters” than to launch projects under names like KPop Metallica, KPop U2, or KPop Black Sabbath.
Demon Hunter’s legal representative, John Tehranian, declined to comment at this time, while Netflix stated via email to CBC News that they intend to contest the lawsuit, dismissing the claims as baseless. Netflix emphasized the global success and impact of “KPop Demon Hunters,” an Academy Award-winning production cherished by fans worldwide for its music, storytelling, and characters.
