NETFLIX have responded to the trademark lawsuit filed against them by DEMON HUNTER, and the answer is a flat rejection.
"These allegations are without merit," a spokesperson said. "NETFLIX has created an Academy Award-winning global phenomenon with 'KPop Demon Hunters' that has inspired fans around the world with its powerful music, storytelling, and characters. We look forward to vigorously defending this matter."
The suit was filed on Tuesday, August 18 by Hyde Lane, the corporate entity behind DEMON HUNTER, in the Central District of California. It names NETFLIX, NETFLIX Studios and AEG Presents — the live-entertainment arm of AEG — and argues the defendants have "created a substantial likelihood of confusion" among consumers.
The band's central charge is one of double standards. The complaint accuses the companies of "jealously guard[ing] and enforc[ing] their own intellectual property rights" while "willfully disregarding the rights of others in pursuit of profits."
DEMON HUNTER's claim to the name rests on longevity. "DEMON HUNTER [is] a well-known and celebrated metal band," the complaint reads. "DEMON HUNTER was formed at the turn of the century and, in the quarter-century since, it has consistently released albums, toured, and sold merchandise to a large and dedicated audience." The band have released a dozen studio albums across those twenty-five years.
Frontman Ryan Clark framed the stakes in existential terms when the suit was filed, saying the brand the band had built now faced a crisis. With NETFLIX signalling it intends to fight rather than settle, that question is headed for a courtroom.
Source: blabbermouth.net