Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken 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, attorneys representing Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, argue that the film’s title bears a striking resemblance to the band’s trademarked name.
Describing the situation as a clash between large corporations protecting their intellectual property rights while neglecting others’ rights for financial gain, the complaint emphasizes Hyde Lane’s ownership of the “Demon Hunter” trademark. Founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, Demon Hunter has released 13 albums and achieved significant sales, including one million album equivalents through streaming. Their most recent album, “There Was a Light Here,” debuted in 2025.
Netflix premiered “KPop Demon Hunters” in June 2025, chronicling the journey of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group doubling as demon fighters. The film quickly became Netflix’s most-viewed movie, amassing over 325.1 million views by March. Despite its success, the band claims that the film has led to mistaken identities, with individuals contacting Demon Hunter under the impression of engaging with the movie’s content.
One incident cited in the complaint involved a parent seeking a refund for concert tickets, mistakenly assuming they were for a “KPop Demon Hunters” event. Subsequently, a producer from “Inside Edition” contacted Demon Hunter’s management to book someone named “Yu-Han Lee,” mistakenly attributing him to the band instead of the songwriter who won an Oscar for the film’s original song, “Golden.”
Moreover, social media users have erroneously used the hashtag #DemonHunter in reference to “KPop Demon Hunters,” further fueling the band’s claim of brand confusion. The complaint highlights Netflix’s alleged unauthorized use of the “KPop Demon Hunters” mark, likening it to hypothetical scenarios involving established bands like Metallica, U2, or Black Sabbath.
While John Tehranian, the band’s legal representative, declined to comment, Netflix issued a statement expressing intent to challenge the lawsuit. Netflix defended its creation of a globally acclaimed movie that garnered an Academy Award, emphasizing its positive impact on audiences worldwide through music, storytelling, and character portrayal.