Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Headquarters LLC is suing Cole Hauser’s Free Rein Coffee Company for trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed on November 21, 2023, mentioned false advertising.
According to the complaint, Free Rein Coffee Company allegedly copied Bosque Ranch’s registered trademark with a striking resemblance. This reportedly caused confusion among consumers as both logos displayed the same graphics style.
RELATED: Taylor Sheridan’s OG Idea for Yellowstone Could’ve Avoided Kevin Costner Drama That Broke the Show
Taylor Sheridan’s Ranch Sues Yellowstone Actor’s Coffee Business
Taylor Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Craft Coffee was launched in June 2023; Cole Hauser became a partner of Free Rein Coffee just last year. The issue created tension between them after the Yellowstone actor began marketing their branded products using the allegedly similar logo without authorization.
Bosque Ranch had intertwined initials, with the letter B on top of R. Free Rein Coffee also displayed the same format although in a different font style. Bosque Ranch Headquarters LLC sought permanent damages from the defendants under Texas Law and the Lanham Act for copyright infringement, as per San Angelo Live.
Free Rein Coffee Company sells ground coffee, whole beans, and coffee pods with brand names such as American Dirt, Homestead, and Heavy Spur. Hauser created this brand to embody “the spirit of the West … the dreamer’s mindset and callused hands of those cowboys [Hauser] admired.”
Formerly known as Longhorn Coffee, Free Rein Coffee Company was acquired by Hauser in 2022. Their San Angelo location at 901 S. Oakes St. is currently under renovation.
Taylor Sheridan And Kevin Costner’s Feud Over Schedule Conflicts
Before Cole Hauser, Taylor Sheridan was already in dispute with another Yellowstone star Kevin Costner amid “disagreements over shooting schedules,” as per Deadline. The actor allegedly “only wanted to spend a week shooting” for the show’s second half of Season 5. Marty Singer, Costner’s lawyer, retaliated and slammed the claims:
“The idea that Kevin was only willing to work one week on the second half of season 5 of Yellowstone is an absolute lie. It’s ridiculous — and anyone suggesting it shouldn’t be believed for one second. As everyone who knows anything about Kevin is well aware, he is incredibly passionate about the show and has always gone way above and beyond to ensure its success.”
Sheridan broke his silence and revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he and Costner tried to negotiate and figure things out. He stated:
“My last conversation with Kevin was that he had this passion project he wanted to direct. He and the network were arguing about when he could be done with Yellowstone. I said, ‘We can certainly work a schedule toward [his preferred exit date],’ which we did. My opinion of Kevin as an actor hasn’t altered. I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone.”
With all the controversies and lawsuits surrounding Sheridan and his Yellowstone cast, it is not yet known whether the new legal action will affect the progress of the show. The final episode of Yellowstone is set to start filming in early spring for its November 2024 debut.
