Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix, alleging trademark infringement due to the streaming service’s popular movie, KPop Demon Hunters. The complaint, filed on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, claims that the film’s title bears too close a resemblance to the band’s trademarked name.
Formed in Seattle in 2000 by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark, Demon Hunter has a substantial musical presence, having released 13 albums and achieved significant album sales, including streaming figures that total over one million units. Their latest album, There Was a Light Here, was released in 2025.
Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, released in June 2025, portrays members of the Huntrix K-pop girl group who double as demon hunters. The film has garnered immense popularity, becoming Netflix’s most-viewed movie with over 325.1 million views as of March.
Following the movie’s release, Demon Hunter has faced queries from individuals mistakenly associating the band with KPop Demon Hunters. In one instance detailed in the complaint, a parent contacted Demon Hunter’s parent company in February seeking a refund for concert tickets, mistakenly assuming they were for a KPop Demon Hunters show.
Furthermore, social media users have erroneously used the #DemonHunter hashtag when discussing KPop Demon Hunters, adding to the confusion. The complaint emphasizes that Netflix’s use of the KPop Demon Hunters title infringes on Demon Hunter’s trademark rights, likening it to unauthorized usage of iconic band names like Metallica, U2, or Black Sabbath in the K-pop genre.
Legal representative John Tehranian, speaking on behalf of Demon Hunter, declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit. In response, Netflix has refuted the allegations, expressing its commitment to defending the acclaimed movie, which has gained global recognition and won an Academy Award for its music and storytelling.
The legal battle between Demon Hunter and Netflix underscores the complexities of intellectual property rights and brand protection in the entertainment industry.