Christian metal band Demon Hunter sue Netflix over KPop Demon Hunters
The band say they face "an existential crisis" after the success of the K-pop-inspired Netflix film.
Christian metal band Demon Hunter has initiated a trademark lawsuit against Netflix, citing the streaming giant's popular film, *Kpop Demon Hunters*.
The U.S.-based band, which has been active for 25 years with music releases and tours, contends that Netflix's plans for a global concert tour, alongside the movie and associated merchandise, create "almost complete overlap" with their own offerings.
The complaint, filed on Tuesday by the band's company, Hyde Lane, alleges that Netflix Studios and live promoter AEG Presents have caused "substantial confusion" among consumers. As evidence, they included an email from an individual who reportedly spent $500 on tickets for a Demon Hunter concert in New York, under the mistaken impression it was a child-friendly Kpop show for their young children.
Other examples cited include a television producer who allegedly contacted the band's management believing they were connected to *Kpop Demon Hunters*, and social media posts that incorrectly tagged Demon Hunter when discussing the film.
The five-member Seattle band, described by AllMusic as playing "aggressive yet emotionally stirring heavy metal," released their 12th album in September 2025 and has 350,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. In contrast, the cast of *Kpop Demon Hunters* boasts 27 million monthly listeners on the streaming platform.
The legal complaint states: "The brand that Hyde Lane has carefully built over the course of the past quarter century now faces an existential crisis, thereby necessitating the filing of this action and the granting of the requested relief from this Court."
The metal band is seeking a court order to prevent Netflix from using the *Kpop Demon Hunters* name for recorded music, live performances, and merchandise, in addition to unspecified damages.
Hyde Lane, the band's company, registered "Demon Hunter" as a trademark for recorded music and merchandise in 2022 and has applied for a trademark related to live music. Netflix has registered "Kpop Demon Hunters" as a trademark for various merchandise uses, with other applications still pending.
What began as a 2025 animated film following the K-pop girl group Huntr/X, *Kpop Demon Hunters* has evolved into a global phenomenon, featuring music releases and extensive merchandise, with a worldwide live tour anticipated to commence in 2027. It holds the distinction of being Netflix's most-watched original title to date and garnered awards for best animated film and best original song for "Golden" at the 2026 Golden Globes and Oscars. A sequel to *Kpop Demon Hunters* is also in development.
The BBC has reached out to Demon Hunter, Netflix, and AEG Presents for comment.