Nothing gets your band name circulating quite like taking Netflix to federal court.
Bitter much? Maybe. But suing Netflix over a band name is certainly one way to get your name out there.
For anyone who didn’t know Seattle Christian metal band Demon Hunter existed before today, there’s a decent chance they do now.
The band, who have been around since 2000, have filed a federal trademark lawsuit against Netflix, Netflix Studios and AEG Presents over the extremely similarly named KPop Demon Hunters.
And to be fair to them, parts of the case are pretty funny.
Demon Hunter’s company Hyde Lane alleges trademark infringement, false designation of origin and unfair competition, arguing that Netflix’s enormous franchise is beginning to swallow up a name the band has been using for more than 25 years.
The 2025 animated film itself was apparently one thing. Things became considerably more complicated when Netflix teamed up with AEG Presents for a KPop Demon Hunters live tour, pushing the two names into the same world of concerts, music and merch.
Which brings us to perhaps the strongest – and funniest – piece of evidence in the complaint.
According to the lawsuit, one parent managed to spend US$500 on tickets to a Demon Hunter show in Albany, New York, believing they were buying tickets to KPop Demon Hunters for their five and six-year-old children.
Imagine turning up expecting HUNTR/X and slowly realising you’ve brought two primary-school-aged kids to a Christian metal gig.
The parent reportedly contacted the band asking for a refund, while Demon Hunter also claims an Inside Edition producer mistakenly approached them while trying to organise an interview connected to the Netflix film.
So, as ridiculous as the whole thing sounds from a distance, they do have at least some evidence that people are getting the two confused.
Demon Hunter argues that Netflix’s sheer size could eventually leave people assuming the older band is somehow connected to, inspired by or cashing in on KPop Demon Hunters – rather than the other way around. The group is asking the court to stop the name being used for live concerts, music and merchandise, alongside financial damages.
Netflix and AEG had not publicly responded to the complaint at the time of reporting.
It’s hard not to see the funny side of a metal band going head-to-head with the biggest animated K-pop franchise on Netflix over the words “Demon Hunter.”
But if you’re dropping 500 bucks on the wrong gig, who is the onus really on? Probably not the band.
