Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix, alleging trademark infringement due to the streaming platform’s popular movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” The lawsuit, filed by Hyde Lane Inc., the parent company of Demon Hunter, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on August 18, 2026, claims that the movie’s title creates confusion with the band’s trademark.
According to the complaint, which emphasizes the importance of intellectual property rights, Demon Hunter, founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, has released 13 albums and achieved significant sales, including through streaming platforms. Their most recent album, “There Was a Light Here,” was released in 2025.
Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” released in June 2025, has become the platform’s most-viewed movie, garnering over 325.1 million views by March. However, since the film’s debut, Demon Hunter has received inquiries from individuals confusing the band with the movie, as highlighted in the legal filing.
Instances of confusion include a mistaken ticket purchase for a Demon Hunter concert, believing it to be related to “KPop Demon Hunters.” Furthermore, a producer from the show “Inside Edition” contacted Demon Hunter’s manager for an interview with Yu Han Lee, the songwriter behind an Academy Award-winning song featured in the movie, mistakenly associating him with the band.
Social media misuse of the hashtag #DemonHunter in relation to “KPop Demon Hunters” has further exacerbated the situation, prompting the legal action against Netflix. The band’s lawyer, John Tehranian, has refrained from commenting on the matter, while Netflix has stated its intention to contest the lawsuit, refuting the claims of trademark infringement.