Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix, alleging trademark infringement due to the streaming platform’s movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on August 18, 2026, lawyers representing Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, claim that the film’s title bears striking similarity to the band’s trademark. Hyde Lane holds the trademark for “Demon Hunter.”
The lawsuit accuses Netflix of disregarding intellectual property rights by exploiting the band’s established name for commercial gain. Founded in Seattle in 2000 by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark, Demon Hunter has released 13 albums and achieved significant sales, including streaming equivalents of over one million albums. Their latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” was released in 2025.
Released in June 2025, Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” narrates the story of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group doubling 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 received inquiries from individuals mistakenly associating the band with “KPop Demon Hunters.” Notably, a parent requested a concert ticket refund in February, believing they had purchased tickets for a show by “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Moreover, the complaint highlights a mix-up where a producer from the TV show “Inside Edition” contacted Demon Hunter’s manager to interview “Yu-Han Lee” about an Oscar win. Yu Han Lee, a songwriter who won the 2026 Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Golden” featured in “KPop Demon Hunters,” is not affiliated with the band.
Social media users have also incorrectly used the hashtag #DemonHunter in posts related to “KPop Demon Hunters.” The legal representation for Demon Hunter emphasized that Netflix’s use of the “KPop Demon Hunters” mark is unwarranted, comparing it to hypothetical scenarios of the platform using established band names like KPop Metallica, KPop U2, or KPop Black Sabbath.
John Tehranian, the band’s legal counsel, declined to comment on the matter. In response, Netflix stated via email to CBC News that they intend to contest the lawsuit, asserting that the allegations are baseless. The company praised the global success of “KPop Demon Hunters” and expressed readiness to defend its position vigorously.
