Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan may be trying to say RIP to Rip, as the showrunner is now suing Cole Hauser – who plays ranch head Rip Wheeler – over a logo dispute. In Sheridan’s eyes, Hauser’s coffee company, Free Rein, has taken liberties with the font and style of the logo of his own coffee venture, Bosque Ranch Craft Coffee, saying they are “confusingly similar…for virtually identical goods.”
As a result, Taylor Sheridan is citing “trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising”, saying Cole Hauser’s Free Rein is trying to “mistake or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association.” Here is a comparison, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter:
The websites for both Bosque Ranch Craft Coffee – named after Sheridan’s ranch (actually a location used for Yellowstone and 1883), positioned above the Brazos River in Texas – and the Free Rein Coffee Co. – also have some similarities. On the former, a video shows Sheridan enjoying a cup of joe before taking in some of the property; on the latter, a still image depicts Hauser – in a getup that no doubt calls to mind Rip Wheeler – looking into the wild blue yonder while holding a mug. Bosque Ranch Craft Coffee was founded in June, while Hauser launched Free Rein this fall.
However, this one shakes out: the dispute between Sheridan and Hauser is just the latest drama behind the scenes of Yellowstone. As we learned a few weeks ago, the final season of the ill-fated series will not feature patriarch John Dutton due to disputes centered around his portrayer, Kevin Costner. This final season is set to air beginning in November 2024.
But with Hauser set to return as fan-favorite Rip, there will no doubt be some tension when filming continues in the spring – not over land but beans. Sheridan officially filed suit last month, only a few days after word came out that Costner would not be returning for the final season.
Do you see enough similarity in the brand logos for Taylor Sheridan to have a case against Cole Hauser? How do you see it all shaking out? Give us your thoughts below.