Netflix sued by real 'Demon Hunter' metal band over 'substantial confusion' with KPop Demon Hunters

The Christian metal band Demon Hunter, through their company Hyde Lane, has sued streaming giant Netflix over concerns of substantial confusion between the two. The band argues that Netflix's popular animated film, KPop Demon Hunters, and its associated merchandise are too similar to their own decades-established brand. The lawsuit highlights a fan who unknowingly purchased $500 worth of tickets to a KPop Demon Hunters concert, only to attend a headbanging event.

Additionally, a TV producer reached out to the band, believing they were involved in the film's production. Social media posts mistakenly tagged the band in movie-related discussions have also contributed to the confusion. While Demon Hunter has a smaller Spotify audience of around 350,000 monthly listeners, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack has amassed an impressive 27 million followers.

Demon Hunter has registered a trademark for music, merchandise, and live performances since 2022, with a live-performance application still pending. Netflix, on the other hand, holds trademarks for KPop Demon Hunters for various merchandise categories, with more applications planned. Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters film has been a massive hit, winning Oscars and Golden Globes, and is the foundation for an expanding universe that includes a sequel, TV spin-offs, and a planned 2027 concert tour.

Demon Hunter is seeking a court injunction to prevent Netflix from using the KPop Demon Hunters name in music, live shows, and merchandise, as well as damages to be determined. It remains to be seen whether the courts view this as a genuine identity crisis or simply an unfortunate clash between two brands associated with demons and hunting.