Christian metal band Demon Hunter has filed a lawsuit against Netflix for trademark infringement, alleging that the popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters” has caused confusion among viewers. The complaint, filed on Aug. 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by Hyde Lane Inc., Demon Hunter’s parent company, states that the film’s title bears a striking resemblance to the band’s trademarked name.
According to the complaint, Demon Hunter, founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, has released 13 albums and sold over a million album equivalents, including streaming numbers. The band’s latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” was released in 2025.
Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” released in June 2025, tells the story of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group doubling as demon hunters, and has become Netflix’s most-watched movie, amassing over 325.1 million views by March. The lawsuit claims that since the movie’s release, Demon Hunter has fielded inquiries from confused individuals mistaking the band for the characters in the film.
In one instance mentioned in the complaint, Demon Hunter’s parent company received an email in February seeking a refund for concert tickets, mistakenly purchased under the assumption they were for a “KPop Demon Hunters” show. Additionally, a mix-up occurred when a producer from the TV show “Inside Edition” attempted to book “Yu-Han Lee,” a songwriter associated with the film, for an interview about an Oscar win.
Moreover, there have been instances of social media users wrongly utilizing the hashtag #DemonHunter when discussing “KPop Demon Hunters.” The suit emphasizes that Netflix’s use of the mark “KPop Demon Hunters” infringes upon Demon Hunter’s rights, likening it to unauthorized usage of renowned band names like Metallica or U2.
Demon Hunter’s legal representative, John Tehranian, declined to comment on the ongoing case. Conversely, Netflix released a statement to CBC News expressing plans to contest the lawsuit, asserting that the claims lack substance and highlighting the film’s global impact and acclaim.