Demon Hunter Sues Netflix Over ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Name
Christian metal band Demon Hunter has sued Netflix and concert promoter AEG Presents, alleging that the expanding KPop Demon Hunters franchise infringes the band’s trademark and is creating confusion around its name.
The lawsuit was filed on August 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by Hyde Lane Inc., the company behind Demon Hunter. The band alleges trademark infringement, false designation of origin and unfair competition.
Demon Hunter was formed in Seattle in 2000 and has spent more than two decades releasing albums, touring and selling merchandise under that name. The group argues that Netflix’s use of KPop Demon Hunters has now moved beyond a film title and into areas that overlap directly with its own business, including music, merchandise and live concerts.
The immediate trigger is Netflix’s expansion of the franchise into live entertainment.
Netflix and AEG announced plans earlier this year for a concert tour built around the music from KPop Demon Hunters, following the enormous success of the animated film and its soundtrack.
Demon Hunter says that expansion is already creating real-world confusion.
According to the complaint, one parent allegedly spent about $500 on tickets to a Demon Hunter concert believing they were purchasing tickets connected to KPop Demon Hunters and later requested a refund. The band also says an Inside Edition producer mistakenly contacted it while seeking an interview with one of the film’s songwriters. Those examples are allegations contained in the lawsuit and have not yet been tested in court.
