Taylor Sheridan sued by writer claiming he stole ‘Yellowstone’ idea

Key Points:

• Lauren J. Salkin, a Virginia-based journalist and screenwriter, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Taylor Sheridan of stealing the idea for his hit series "Yellowstone" from her project "Sovereign Nation," which she developed over more than a decade.
• Salkin alleges that her copyrighted series, centered on tribal governance and casino-driven economic power, was submitted to Sheridan's management in 2017 before "Yellowstone" was greenlit and aired in 2018.
• The lawsuit highlights specific similarities between "Sovereign Nation" and "Yellowstone," including casting suggestions and thematic elements, and claims that Sheridan's spinoffs are also based on her work.
• The suit seeks a jury trial, an injunction to stop further copyright infringement, and unspecified damages, emphasizing that the claim is about copying particular expressive elements, not general Western themes.
• Sheridan, known for other projects like "Tulsa King" and "Hell or High Water," is currently transitioning his production company from Paramount to NBCUniversal by 2029; representatives for all parties have not yet commented.