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.” The lawsuit, 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 is too similar to the band’s trademarked name.
Demon Hunter, founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, has released 13 albums and achieved significant sales, including one million album equivalents when factoring in streaming numbers. Their most recent album, “There Was a Light Here,” was released in 2025.
Released by Netflix in June 2025, “KPop Demon Hunters” portrays the members of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group who double as demon hunters. The film has broken records as Netflix’s most-viewed movie, accumulating over 325.1 million views by March.
Following the movie’s release, Demon Hunter received inquiries from individuals who mistook the band for “KPop Demon Hunters.” Notably, in February, the band’s management received an email seeking a ticket refund for a concert, mistakenly thinking it was for a show by the fictional group.
Moreover, social media users have erroneously linked Demon Hunter to discussions about “KPop Demon Hunters” using the hashtag #DemonHunter. The legal complaint emphasized that Netflix’s use of the title infringes on the band’s trademark rights, comparing it to hypothetical scenarios involving renowned music acts.
While John Tehranian, the band’s legal representative, declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit, Netflix responded, stating that the allegations are baseless. The company highlighted the global success and impact of “KPop Demon Hunters” and affirmed its intent to vigorously defend against the legal challenge.
