Christian metal band Demon Hunter has filed a lawsuit against Netflix over the streaming service’s animated franchise KPop Demon Hunters. The suit claims trademark infringement and unfair competition, arguing that the success of the Netflix property creates significant brand confusion for the band, which has been active for over two decades.
Hyde Lane, the corporate entity for the band, filed the complaint in the US District Court for the Central District of California. The legal action names Netflix, Netflix Studios, and promoter AEG Presents as defendants. The band alleges that the Netflix franchise has moved from an animated movie into live events and merchandise, directly overlapping with their existing business operations.
The complaint outlines specific instances of consumer confusion, including one parent who mistakenly purchased $500 worth of tickets for a Demon Hunter concert under the impression they were for a KPop Demon Hunters show. Another example involves a television producer who reached out to the metal band while attempting to book an interview with a songwriter from the Netflix franchise.
Demon Hunter is seeking a court order to halt the use of the name KPop Demon Hunters for music, merchandise, and live events, alongside unspecified damages. Netflix has rejected these claims, citing the global success and popularity of their franchise as independent of the metal band. A spokesperson for the streamer stated that the allegations are without merit and that the company intends to defend the case in court.