Demon HunterChristian metal band Demon Hunter has sued Netflix and tour promoters AEG Presents over KPop Demon Hunters – the extraordinarily popular film and plans for a tour – alleging that it infringes on its trademarks.
In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday (18 August), the band argued that the KPop Demon Hunters tour announcement is confusing fans of both projects and threatens to “eclipse” their brand, Reuters reports.
The band, formed in Seattle in 2000, alleged that the Netflix film could cause confusion and, as a result, drown them out of the marketplace.
According to The Guardian, part of the lawsuit includes an email from someone who spent $500 on tickets to a Demon Hunter gig in New York, confusing them for a KPop Demon Hunters show they planned to take their children to.
The complaint describes Netflix and AEG Presents’ actions as “wilful misconduct,” which now presents the band with an “existential crisis.”
A statement in the lawsuit reads, “Simply put, Netflix is no more entitled to use the mark KPOP DEMON HUNTERS than it would be to launch a recording artist, live touring show and merchandise under the marks KPOP METALLICA, KPOP U2 or KPOP BLACK SABBATH.”
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Demon Hunter have asked a California court to block the use of KPop Demon Hunters on music, merchandising and tour promotion. They’re also seeking an “unspecified amount” of monetary damages, per Reuters.
Demon Hunter also argued that they’re a “well-known and celebrated metal band,” per The Wrap, and despite releasing albums, touring, and selling merchandise, they allege that the release of KPop Demon Hunters is creating new competition.
“Unfortunately, in 2025, Netflix and Netflix Studios – despite almost certainly being aware of Demon Hunter – chose to release a movie titled ‘KPop Demon Hunters’,” the lawsuit reads, citing its “unprecedented levels of success, not only as a film on Netflix’s streaming service, but also via the ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ movie soundtrack album and merchandise.”
Demon Hunter registered the band name as a trademark that covers their recorded music and merchandise in 2022. They’ve since applied for trademark protections for live music. Meanwhile, Netflix registered the trademark for KPop Demon Hunters for merchandise purposes and has other applications pending.
Since its debut last June, KPop Demon Hunters has amassed more than 500 million views on Netflix. HUNTR/X have also made history as the first K-pop girl band to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and their song Golden is the first K-pop song to win a Grammy Award.
The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack debuted at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart last July. It retained the top spot until mid-August.
