Christian Metal Band Has a Beef With Hit Netflix Film

A Christian metal band says one of Netflix's biggest hits ever is putting its name, and business, at risk. Demon Hunter, a Seattle group that's been touring and releasing albums for 25 years, has sued Netflix and promoter AEG Presents over the animated juggernaut KPop Demon Hunters, calling the overlap in music, touring, and merch "an existential crisis" for their brand, the BBC reports. The complaint cites "substantial confusion" due to the "almost complete overlap" between the band's offerings and that of the Netflix film, including but not limited to misdirected industry inquiries and social media tags.

Complex cites the example of one individual who allegedly spent $500 on concert tickets believing they were for a kid-friendly K-pop show in Albany, New York. The band also notes in its suit that it has been "forced to surrender control over its commercial identity simply because defendants have greater resources and a larger marketplace footprint," the Wrap reports.

Demon Hunter, whose "Demon Hunter" trademark was registered for recorded music and merch in 2022, wants Netflix barred from using "KPop Demon Hunters" for recordings, live shows, and merchandise and seeks unspecified damages, per the BBC. Netflix's film is its most-watched original ever, with a sequel and global tour planned for next year.