A Christian metal band called Demon Hunter is taking legal action against Netflix for trademark infringement, alleging that the popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters” has caused confusion among viewers. The lawsuit was 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, which owns the trademark “Demon Hunter.”
According to the complaint, Demon Hunter has been in existence since 2000 when brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark founded the band in Seattle. Over the years, Demon Hunter has released 13 albums and achieved significant sales, including streaming numbers equivalent to one million albums. Their most recent album, “There Was a Light Here,” was released in 2025.
Netflix premiered “KPop Demon Hunters” in June 2025, a film that follows the story of members of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group who double as demon hunters. The movie has become Netflix’s most-watched film ever, garnering over 325.1 million views as of March.
The lawsuit mentions instances where individuals have mistaken Demon Hunter for “KPop Demon Hunters,” prompting confusion and inquiries. For example, the parent company received an email in February requesting a refund for concert tickets, mistakenly believing they were for a show related to “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Furthermore, the complaint highlights social media misuse of the hashtag #DemonHunter in posts related to “KPop Demon Hunters.” The lawsuit emphasizes the band’s rights to the trademark and asserts that Netflix’s use of the name infringes on those rights.
A lawyer representing Demon Hunter, John Tehranian, declined to comment on the matter at this time. In response, Netflix stated that they will vigorously defend against the lawsuit, asserting that the claims are baseless. The company praised the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” as a global sensation that has captivated audiences worldwide with its music, storytelling, and characters.