Demon Hunter, a Christian metal band, has taken legal action against Netflix for trademark infringement over the release of the popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” The band’s parent company, Hyde Lane Inc., claims in a lawsuit filed on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that Netflix’s film title is too similar to their trademarked name, “Demon Hunter.”
Demon Hunter, founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, has a history of 13 album releases and significant sales, equivalent to one million albums when considering streaming numbers. Their latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” came out in 2025.
“KPop Demon Hunters,” a Netflix production released in June 2025, follows the story of members from Huntrix, a K-pop girl group who double as demon hunters. The film has become Netflix’s most-viewed movie, amassing over 325.1 million views by March, according to the company.
Since the film’s debut, Demon Hunter alleges receiving inquiries from confused individuals who have mistaken the band for “KPop Demon Hunters.” Notably, in February, an email requesting a concert ticket refund was sent to Demon Hunter’s parent company by a parent who mistakenly believed they were purchasing tickets for a show related to “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Moreover, the complaint details another instance where a producer from the TV show “Inside Edition” contacted Demon Hunter’s manager to book an interview with “Yu-Han Lee” regarding an Oscar win. However, Yu Han Lee is a songwriter associated with “KPop Demon Hunters” who won the 2026 Academy Award for best original song with “Golden.”
Social media users have also contributed to the confusion by incorrectly using the hashtag #DemonHunter in posts related to “KPop Demon Hunters.” The lawsuit emphasizes that Netflix’s use of the name “KPop Demon Hunters” infringes on Demon Hunter’s trademark, likening it to launching artists or shows under established band names like KPop Metallica, KPop U2, or KPop Black Sabbath.
Representing the band, lawyer John Tehranian declined to provide a comment at this time. In response, Netflix stated through an email to CBC News that they will contest the lawsuit, dismissing the allegations as baseless and expressing their commitment to defending the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” as a globally acclaimed production.