Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix, alleging trademark infringement due to the streaming platform’s popular movie, “KPop Demon Hunters.” In a lawsuit filed on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, lawyers representing Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, argue that the film’s title bears striking similarity to the band’s trademarked name. The complaint emphasizes Hyde Lane’s ownership of the “Demon Hunter” trademark and condemns what it describes as a disregard for the band’s intellectual property rights in pursuit of profits.
Founded in Seattle in 2000 by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark, Demon Hunter has established a significant presence in the music industry with 13 album releases and a total of one million album equivalents sold, including streaming figures. Their latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” was launched in 2025.
Netflix premiered “KPop Demon Hunters” in June 2025, chronicling the adventures of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group doubling as demon hunters. The film has become a massive success for Netflix, boasting over 325.1 million views by March, making it the platform’s most-viewed movie to date.
Following the film’s release, Demon Hunter has encountered instances of mistaken identity, as individuals have confused the band with the fictional group portrayed in “KPop Demon Hunters.” Notable incidents include a parent requesting a concert ticket refund after mistakenly purchasing tickets for a non-existent “KPop Demon Hunters” show. Moreover, a producer from the TV show “Inside Edition” erroneously reached out to book a member of Demon Hunter, mistaking him for Yu Han Lee, the songwriter behind the Oscar-winning song “Golden” featured in the film.
Social media activity has further compounded the confusion, with users erroneously tagging content related to “KPop Demon Hunters” with the #DemonHunter hashtag. The lawsuit contends that Netflix’s use of the “KPop Demon Hunters” title infringes on Demon Hunter’s trademark rights, drawing a comparison to hypothetical scenarios involving other iconic music acts.
The band’s legal representative, John Tehranian, declined to provide comments at the present time, while Netflix issued a statement to CBC News expressing its intent to challenge the lawsuit, refuting the allegations and affirming its commitment to defending the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” as a global phenomenon celebrated for its music, narrative, and characters.