Demon Hunter sues Netflix, AEG over 'KPop Demon Hunters' trademark

Christian metal band Demon Hunter has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Netflix and concert promoter AEG Presents, alleging the streamer's massively successful animated film KPop Demon Hunters has overwhelmed and effectively stolen the band's long-established name. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, August 18, in Los Angeles federal court, claims the similarity between the band's name and the movie's title has caused consumer confusion and commercial harm.

The band, which has been active for over 25 years, argues that Netflix and AEG have leveraged their superior resources to crowd out the band's identity. The lawsuit, filed by the band's corporation Hyde Lane, describes a classic case of "reverse confusion," where a large company's new brand drowns out a smaller, senior user. The filing states that despite the band establishing its mark first and investing in its goodwill for decades, it has been "forced to surrender control over its commercial identity" due to the defendants' greater financial and market power.

The dispute centers on the 2025 animated musical KPop Demon Hunters, which became a global phenomenon. The film was the most-watched Netflix original of all time,...