A Christian metal band known as Demon Hunter is taking legal action against Netflix for trademark infringement, claiming that the popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters” has caused confusion among viewers. In a lawsuit filed on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, alleges that the film’s title closely resembles the band’s trademarked name. According to the complaint, Hyde Lane holds the registered trademark for “Demon Hunter.”
The legal document states that the lawsuit highlights the disparity between large corporations that aggressively protect their intellectual property rights while disregarding the rights of others for financial gain. Founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, Demon Hunter has released 13 albums and achieved significant sales, equivalent to one million albums when considering streaming figures. Their latest album, “There Was a Light Here,” was released in 2025.
Netflix premiered “KPop Demon Hunters” in June 2025, a film that portrays members of the K-pop girl group Huntrix who double as demon hunters. The movie has become Netflix’s most-viewed film, garnering over 325.1 million views by March. However, since the movie’s release, Demon Hunter has received inquiries from individuals who have mistakenly associated the band with “KPop Demon Hunters.”
In a notable incident mentioned in the complaint, Demon Hunter’s parent company received an email in February requesting a ticket refund for a concert, as the sender had mistakenly purchased tickets for a “KPop Demon Hunters” show. Another mix-up occurred when a producer from the TV show “Inside Edition” sought an interview with “Yu-Han Lee,” mistakenly assuming he was a member of Demon Hunter. Yu-Han Lee is actually a songwriter who won an Academy Award in 2026 for the best original song featured in “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters.”
The complaint further notes that social media users have erroneously used the hashtag #DemonHunter when referring to “KPop Demon Hunters.” The legal representatives for Demon Hunter have emphasized the unjust use of the “KPop Demon Hunters” mark by Netflix, likening it to unauthorized launches of recording artists and merchandise under established band names like KPop Metallica, KPop U2, or KPop Black Sabbath.
John Tehranian, the band’s legal counsel, declined to provide any comments at present. In response to the lawsuit, Netflix stated in an email to CBC News that they intend to contest the allegations, asserting that the accusations lack validity. Netflix praised the global success of “KPop Demon Hunters,” highlighting its impact on fans worldwide through its compelling music, narrative, and characters, and expressed readiness to defend their position vigorously.