Christian metal band Demon Hunter is suing Netflix over its animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” alleging trademark infringement and accusing the streamer of unfair competition as the show’s success eclipses the band’s brand.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Hyde Lane, the corporate entity for Demon Hunter, against Netflix, Netflix Studios and concert promoter AEG Presents. Netflix said it is teaming up with AEG for a “KPop Demon Hunters” world concert tour set to launch in 2027.
The filing says Netflix’s hit franchise has evolved from an animated movie into a music, merchandise and live-events brand that now overlaps with Hyde Lane’s business, causing confusion for consumers.
“Demon Hunter was formed at the turn of the century and, in the quarter-century since, it has consistently released albums, toured, and sold merchandise to a large and dedicated audience,” states the lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California.
“Defendants have taken step after step to move into almost complete overlap with the goods and services offered by Hyde Lane under the DEMON HUNTER mark,” it states.
