Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix, alleging trademark infringement due to the streaming platform’s movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” The band, founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in 2000 in Seattle, filed a complaint on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The lawsuit claims that Netflix’s film title is too similar to the band’s trademark, owned by Hyde Lane Inc., Demon Hunter’s parent company.
According to the complaint, since the release of “KPop Demon Hunters” by Netflix in June 2025, there has been confusion among the public, with individuals mistaking the band for the movie. Demon Hunter, known for its 13 albums and significant sales, including streaming numbers equivalent to one million albums, released their latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” in 2025.
The film “KPop Demon Hunters” follows members of a K-pop girl group, Huntrix, who engage in demon hunting as a side activity. Netflix reported it as their most-viewed movie, with over 325.1 million views as of March. The legal complaint mentioned instances where the band received inquiries from confused individuals post the movie’s release.
In one case, Demon Hunter’s parent company received a refund request for a concert ticket in February, where a parent mistakenly believed they were purchasing tickets for a “KPop Demon Hunters” show. Additionally, a producer from “Inside Edition” contacted the band’s manager to book an interview with “Yu-Han Lee,” who is a songwriter associated with the movie, not the band.
The complaint further highlighted social media misuse of the #DemonHunter hashtag in relation to “KPop Demon Hunters.” The band’s legal representation, John Tehranian, declined to comment at this time. Netflix, in response to the lawsuit, stated that they would contest the allegations, emphasizing the global success and impact of “KPop Demon Hunters.”
