'Yellowstone' creator Taylor Sheridan sued by writer alleging he stole her idea

Key Points:

• Writer Lauren J. Salkin is suing Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and associated companies, alleging they stole the idea for Yellowstone from her project Sovereign Nation, which she developed over more than 10 years and pitched in 2016-2017.
• Salkin claims her script and pitch, centered on tribal governance, casino-driven economic power, and land disputes, share specific similarities with Yellowstone, including plot elements, characters, and dramatic scenes.
• The lawsuit states Sheridan's team rejected her pitch but greenlit Yellowstone shortly after, and an HBO executive reportedly noted similarities between Sheridan's Yellowstone pitch and Salkin's work.
• Yellowstone aired from 2018 to 2024, becoming a major hit with multiple spinoffs, and Salkin seeks an injunction, damages, profits, and a jury trial for alleged copyright infringement.
• Salkin's attorneys argue she has been exploited and now aims to hold the entertainment industry accountable, noting that actors from her pitch appeared in Yellowstone, and Sheridan had prior working relationships with some cast members.