The KPop Demon Hunters World Tour kicks off in 2027 and is expected to visit around 150 cities. Tickets aren’t on sale yet, but some fans apparently didn’t realize that and ended up accidentally buying tickets to see Christian metal band Demon Hunter instead. Demon Hunter said it received refund requests as a result and is now suing Netflix over trademark infringement. According to the band, which was founded in 2000, this isn’t its first KPop-related mix-up. Their lawsuit claims the “KPop Demon Hunters” name has caused “substantial confusion.” It cites the ticket issues and other incidents of mistaken identity, including a television producer who reached out thinking they were connected to the film. From the BBC:
Christian metal band Demon Hunter are suing Netflix in a trademark lawsuit over the streamer’s hit film Kpop Demon Hunters.
The US group, who have been releasing music and touring for 25 years, said Netflix’s plan for a global concert tour, along with the movie and merchandise, means there is “almost complete overlap” with their offerings.
Filed on Tuesday by the band’s company Hyde Lane, the complaint claims Netflix Studios and live promoter AEG Presents have caused “substantial confusion” among consumers.
They included email evidence from someone who allegedly spent $500 on tickets for a Demon Hunter concert in New York, thinking it was a child-friendly Kpop show for their small children.
Other examples cited include a television producer who reportedly contacted the band’s management thinking they were related to Kpop Demon Hunters, and social media posts incorrectly tagging Demon Hunter when discussing the film.
The five-piece Seattle band, who play “aggressive yet emotionally stirring heavy metal” according to AllMusic, released their 12th album in September 2025 and have 350,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
By comparison, the KPop Demon Hunters cast have 27 million monthly listeners on the streaming platform.
The legal complaint said: “The brand that Hyde Lane has carefully built over the course of the past quarter century now faces an existential crisis, thereby necessitating the filing of this action and the granting of the requested relief from this Court.”
The metal band have asked the court to stop Netflix using the KPop Demon Hunters name for recorded music, live shows and merchandise, and to award unspecified damages.
The band’s company registered “Demon Hunter” as a trademark for recorded music and merchandise in 2022, and have applied for a trademark in relation to live music.
Netflix has registered “Kpop Demon Hunters” as a trademark for a number of merchandise uses, with other applications pending.
Having to issue hundreds of dollars in refunds really sucks. I’d be upset about that too. Demon Hunter should add a big disclaimer to their tour page to make sure people know what show they’re buying tickets for. When you just compare the two logos, you can tell they’re completely different. It’s wild that someone would make that mistake. KPDH’s logo is sparkly and colorful while the logo for Demon Hunter is a menacing, balrog-looking image. I also don’t understand how someone could drop $500 on the wrong concert tickets. I’m so paranoid that I triple-check everything from movie tickets to plane tickets.
As for the lawsuit, to win a trademark case, the plaintiff has to prove several things, including that they own a valid trademark and that the defendant’s mark is likely to cause consumer confusion. The ticket mix-up is their strongest evidence but their logos look different enough that “likely confusion” may not be an easy argument to win. I also don’t think a few incorrect Instagram tags or a producer making contact can be considered an “existential crisis.” It’s annoying, but it’s free publicity, and with this lawsuit, they’re making the most of it.
In this case I really don’t see how people are getting mixed up. But that said, I now can’t book multiple train journeys on they same booking because apparently people would ´forget’ they had other journeys in their basket and pay for them all. Sigh.
I have a friend who lives in Ontario, California. Every time I go visit her I’m terrified that I will end up in Canada somehow! So, yes, I’m very careful with ticketing. It gives me anxiety every time.
I think the band is making the most of the situation and getting some publicity out of it. I doubt they will prevail in court. Perhaps Netflix will just settle.