A lawsuit filed in federal court accuses writer and director Taylor Sheridan of stealing the idea for his successful series “Yellowstone.” The claim comes from Lauren J. Salkin, a journalist and screenwriter based in Virginia.

Salkin alleges that she spent over a decade developing a series titled “Sovereign Nation.” Her project focused on tribal governance, casino-driven economic power, and a modern land development conflict. Salkin copyrighted her overall work in 2010 and a specific pilot script in 2016.

According to the lawsuit, Salkin submitted “Sovereign Nation” to Sheridan’s management, Elevate Entertainment, in February 2017. She later received an email stating, “Taylor thanks you very much for your interest. Unfortunately, he’s unavailable for TV projects.” Shortly after, Paramount approved Sheridan’s “Yellowstone,” which premiered on June 20, 2018.

The lawsuit claims there are notable similarities between “Sovereign Nation” and “Yellowstone.” It argues that “Yellowstone” includes specific expressive choices found in Salkin’s work, not simply being another Western about land or family.

Actors Gil Birmingham and Danny Huston, mentioned in Salkin’s original materials as casting ideas, later appeared in “Yellowstone.” Salkin also claims that “Yellowstone” spinoffs like “1883,” “1923,” “Marshalls,” and “Dutton Ranch” are based on her concept.

Salkin’s lawsuit clarifies that it does not claim copyright protection over general themes, such as a Western or a land dispute. Instead, it focuses on the specific expressive choices copied from her work. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, an injunction against further copyright infringement, and unspecified damages.

“Yellowstone” aired for five seasons from 2018 to 2024. Sheridan, known for other series like “Tulsa King” and “Mayor of Kingston,” will move his production company from Paramount to NBCUniversal in 2029. He received an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay in 2017 for the film “Hell or High Water.”