A legal battle has emerged between Christian metal band Demon Hunter and streaming platform Netflix over alleged trademark infringement related to the movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” The lawsuit, dated August 18, 2026, was filed by Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The legal representatives of Demon Hunter claim that the title of the film closely resembles the band’s trademarked name.
Demon Hunter, founded by brothers Ryan and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, has a history of 13 album releases and significant sales, including digital streaming figures totaling one million albums. Their latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” was launched in 2025.
Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” released in June 2025, narrates the story of members of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group engaged in hunting demons. The film has garnered exceptional viewership, with over 325.1 million views as of March, becoming Netflix’s most-watched production.
The lawsuit asserts that since the movie’s premiere, Demon Hunter has encountered instances where individuals have mistakenly associated the band with “KPop Demon Hunters.” Notably, a parent contacted Demon Hunter’s parent company in February seeking a refund for concert tickets, mistakenly assuming they were for a show related to the film.
Moreover, the complaint mentions an incident where a producer from the show “Inside Edition” reached out to Demon Hunter’s management to arrange an interview with “Yu-Han Lee,” who is actually a songwriter recognized for his work in “KPop Demon Hunters,” not affiliated with the band.
The complaint also highlights social media misuse of the hashtag #DemonHunter in connection with discussions about “KPop Demon Hunters.” Legal representatives emphasized that Netflix’s utilization of the title “KPop Demon Hunters” infringes on Demon Hunter’s trademark rights, drawing parallels with hypothetical scenarios involving famous music bands.
While John Tehranian, the band’s legal representative, declined to provide any comments, Netflix responded to CBC News via email, expressing intentions to contest the lawsuit, dismissing the allegations as unfounded. The company emphasized the global success and impact of “KPop Demon Hunters,” vowing to vigorously defend their position.