Christian metal band Demon Hunter has taken legal action against Netflix for trademark infringement, alleging that the popular film KPop Demon Hunters has caused confusion among viewers. The lawsuit, 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, claims that the film’s title closely resembles the band’s trademark.
Demon Hunter, founded by brothers Ryan Clark and Don Clark in Seattle in 2000, has a significant music catalog with 13 albums and over one million equivalent album sales, including streaming numbers. Their most recent album, There Was a Light Here, was released in 2025.
Netflix’s film KPop Demon Hunters, released in June 2025, tells the story of members of a K-pop girl group who also hunt demons. The movie has become Netflix’s most-watched film, amassing over 325.1 million views by March. Following the film’s release, Demon Hunter received inquiries from individuals who confused the band with characters from KPop Demon Hunters.
One incident cited in the complaint involved a parent mistakenly purchasing concert tickets, believing they were for a KPop Demon Hunters show, prompting a refund request. Additionally, a producer from Inside Edition contacted Demon Hunter’s manager seeking an interview with “Yu-Han Lee” for winning an Oscar, mistaking him for a member of the band. Yu Han Lee is actually a songwriter who won the 2026 Academy Award for Best Original Song for the film’s soundtrack.
The complaint highlights instances where social media users incorrectly associated the band with the hashtag #DemonHunter in posts related to KPop Demon Hunters. The legal representatives of Demon Hunter emphasize that Netflix’s use of the title infringes on their trademark rights, comparing it to unauthorized use of well-known band names in different genres.
While John Tehranian, the band’s lawyer, declined to comment on the ongoing case, Netflix responded to the allegations, stating that they will vigorously defend against the lawsuit. The streaming platform defended the success and impact of KPop Demon Hunters, calling it an Academy Award-winning global sensation that has resonated with fans worldwide.