Yellowstone: The popular western series ‘Yellowstone’ has faced many challenges over the years, be it the departure of lead actor Kevin Costner or the SAG-AFTRA strike. But a recent legal hitch has left fans wondering if the show’s return could be delayed even further. Compared to other seasons of the show, the second half of the final season took a full two years to arrive.
Fans’ anxiety grew further when news broke that there was a legal dispute going on between the show’s creator Taylor Sheridan and actor Cole Hauser, who played Rip Wheeler on the show. What was this dispute and how was it resolved? Let’s find out in detail.
Sheridan sues Hauser’s ‘Free Rain’ coffee brand
Cole Hauser is a well-known actor who has given stellar performances in films like ‘Rogue’ and ‘2 Fast 2 Furious’. But apart from acting, he also has a special interest in coffee. Owing to this interest, he started a coffee brand called ‘Free Rain’, which combines cowboy culture and premium coffee together.
However, his idea was very similar to ‘Boske Ranch’, a brand associated with Yellowstone. Sheridan’s company also sells coffee and western lifestyle products. Hauser’s ‘Free Rain’ brand had a name and logo similar to Sheridan’s company, leading to a trademark infringement case. In November 2023, Yellowstone’s legal team filed a lawsuit against ‘Free Rain’, alleging that the brand’s name and logo were very similar to ‘Boske Ranch’.
The lawsuit stated that the ‘Free Rain’ logo is made up of a combination of the letters ‘F’ and ‘R’, while the ‘Boske Ranch’ logo uses ‘B’ and ‘R’. The dispute also grew because both brands were appealing to the same target audience, leading to business competition.
Legal Battle Resolution and Settlement
Despite this unexpected dispute, the case did not last for months and was quickly settled. Hauser’s legal team argued that ‘Free Rain’ is a common term and cannot be specifically linked to Yellowstone. Also, their brand logo is completely different from Yellowstone or Bosque Ranch.
As per the legal arguments, it is difficult to claim copyright on any common term and Sheridan had to prove that ‘Free Rain’ was indeed causing confusion among consumers. Eventually, the case was settled out of court with a confidential settlement in early 2024. It is possible that Hauser made some minor changes to his branding or Sheridan decided to settle the matter peacefully.
Did this dispute have any impact on ‘Yellowstone’?
Despite such a major legal dispute, Hauser and Sheridan did not let anything hamper their work on ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2. They worked professionally and tried to deliver the show to the audience on time. Hauser remained in his role and the show went off the air without any interruption. Interestingly, Kevin Costner, who has left ‘Yellowstone’, also has his own coffee company called ‘Horizon Blend’, which is based on the Western theme and cowboy-style marketing.
This is probably why Sheridan felt that Hauser was also taking advantage of Yellowstone’s popularity to promote his brand. Conclusion With Yellowstone’s fame, such legal disputes are natural. Commercialization of cowboy culture is nothing new, but when the lines of similarity get blurred, legal steps are taken for brand protection. In this case, both parties presented their arguments and eventually settled. What do you think? Was Sheridan’s claim justified, or should Hauser have the full right to develop his brand independently?
Read Also: Liam Neeson’s Gripping Survival Thriller ‘The Grey’ and Its Lasting Impact
Surendra Bareth is a versatile actor and assistant director with a Bachelor’s degree from Guru Ghasidas University. He has made remarkable contributions to Hindi and Chhattisgarhi cinema, as well as television, excelling in both acting and direction.
Contact Information:
