In brief
The Seattle‑based metal outfit Demon Hunter has launched a lawsuit against Netflix and its live‑event partner AEG Presents, accusing them of infringing on the band’s trademark through the popular film Kpop Demon Hunters. The complaint argues that the streaming service’s use of a similar name for concerts, merchandise and music releases creates ‘substantial confusion’ among fans. Demon Hunter alleges that a customer was misled into purchasing a Kpop event ticket for a Demon Hunter show, underscoring the perceived overlap. The lawsuit also seeks to halt all future uses of the Kpop Demon Hunters brand in music and live performances and to recover unspecified damages. This legal battle underscores the growing tension between legacy rock brands and the burgeoning entertainment-technology ecosystem.
The US Christian metal band Demon Hunter has filed a trademark lawsuit against Netflix and live‑event organizer AEG Presents, alleging that the streaming powerhouse’s popular anime,” Kpop Demon Hunters,” creates almost complete overlap with the band’s own brand.
The lawsuit, lodged on Tuesday by the band’s legal arm Hyde Lane, claims that Netflix’s plans for a global concert tour, plus the film and its associated merchandise, have caused "substantial confusion" among consumers. The complaint cites an email from a fan who paid $500 for a Demon Hunter concert in New York, only to discover it was a child‑friendly Kpop event.
Other evidence points to a television producer mistakenly contacting the band’s management under the assumption that they were linked to the Kpop franchise, and social media posts repeatedly mis‑tagging Demon Hunter when discussing the anime.
- The Seattle band, noted for "aggressive yet emotionally stirring heavy metal," released their twelfth album in September 2025 and enjoys 350,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
- By contrast, the Kpop Demon Hunters cast boasts 27 million monthly listeners.
- The band’s own trademark for “Demon Hunter” was registered in 2022, with additional applications pending for live events.
The complaint demands that Netflix cease all uses of the Kpop Demon Hunters name for music, live shows and merchandise, and that the court award unspecified damages. It also outlines Netflix’s own trademark filings for “Kpop Demon Hunters” in several categories, citing pending applications for merchandise.
Kpop Demon Hunters, the 2025 animated film featuring the girl group Huntr/X, has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. It will no doubt be followed by an international live tour slated to begin in 2027 and a series of sequels and spin‑offs, including a television series and stage musical.
The BBC has reached out for comment from Demon Hunter, Netflix and AEG Presents as the case progresses.
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