Christian metallic band Demon Hunter has sued Netflix and live performance promoter AEG Presents in California federal court docket, alleging an upcoming live performance tour based mostly on the streaming platform’s KPop Demon Hunters infringes its emblems.
The band stated within the lawsuit filed on Tuesday (Aug 18) that the current announcement of a tour based mostly on Netflix’s hit film has created shopper confusion and threatens to “eclipse” its model.
“Merely put, Netflix is not any extra entitled to make use of the mark KPOP DEMON HUNTERS than it will be to launch a recording artist, stay touring present and merchandise below the marks KPOP METALLICA, KPOP U2 or KPOP BLACK SABBATH,” the lawsuit stated.
Netflix responded in an announcement on Wednesday that the allegations had been “with out benefit”.
“We look ahead to vigorously defending this matter,” Netflix stated.
Demon Hunter’s legal professional John Tehranian of One LLP declined to remark.
Demon Hunter was fashioned in Seattle in 2000. The band launched its most up-to-date album final 12 months and is ready to embark on a US tour in October.
Netflix launched KPop Demon Hunters, an animated film a few Korean Ok-pop group that secretly fights demons, in June 2025. It grew to become the streaming platform’s most-watched movie ever, in keeping with Netflix, and received Academy Awards for finest animated function and finest track.
Netflix introduced a partnership with AEG in Could for a tour based mostly on the film.
Demon Hunter’s lawsuit stated Netflix’s ventures had been prone to trigger confusion and drown it out of {the marketplace}. The band stated it had already acquired a refund request from a mother or father who unintentionally purchased tickets to considered one of its concert events as an alternative of the KPop Demon Hunters tour and had gotten an e mail from an Inside Version producer searching for an interview with one of many film’s songwriters.
“Because of Defendants’ willful misconduct,” the band “now faces an existential disaster, thereby necessitating the submitting of this motion”, it stated within the criticism.
Demon Hunter requested the court docket for an order blocking the usage of KPop Demon Hunters on music or merchandise or to advertise stay concert events, in addition to an unspecified quantity of financial damages.
