Warner Bros. Threatens Legal Action Over Chris Harrison's New Fox Nation Show

Warner Bros. TV has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Fox Nation over "The Vow," the upcoming dating show hosted by former "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison, accusing the network of riding on the coattails of its franchise.

The letter, sent Sept. 18 and obtained by Variety, claims that promos for the series constitute "a plain attempt to capitalize on and 'ride on the coattails' of WB's instantly recognizable intellectual property and the Franchise's goodwill in violation of, inter alia, state and federal trademark, copyright, and unfair competition laws."

WBTV, the studio that produces "The Bachelor," struck a measured tone on one point: "To be clear, though, we have no objection to Fox and Lionsgate releasing a dating show hosted by Chris Harrison in and of itself. But thus far, Fox and Lionsgate have promoted the Series entirely on the back of the Franchise, not on its own merits."

The letter carries the subject line "Cease and Desist regarding The Vow – Unauthorized Use of THE BACHELOR Intellectual Property" and argues that the show's marketing "capitalizes on WB's intellectual property and goodwill in the Franchise." It lists what it calls "Non-exhaustive examples of your unauthorized use" — screenshots from the trailer placed beside screenshots from past seasons of the franchise.

The red roses in the trailer drew specific objection. "Red roses are, of course, one of the central and instantly recognizable symbols of the Franchise, and this image from the Series teaser is plainly a direct copy of numerous Franchise promotional materials," the letter states. WBTV also claims a thumbnail "feature[s] a mansion in the background meant to evoke the iconic 'Bachelor Mansion.'"

Fox Nation fired back on Sept. 24. In its own letter, also obtained by Variety, the network argues WBTV holds no rights over the "falling roses motif or in the words 'The Bachelor' when used colloquially to describe a single man."

The response accuses WBTV of selective reading: "Your letter also focuses myopically on certain stills from the trailer, while omitting that its clear purpose is to convey that The Vow 'offers a different approach' from other dating shows 'by placing the focus on meaningful relationships, commitment and building a life together.' Your letter appears designed not to vindicate legitimate copyright and trademark interests, but to restrict FOX Nation and Chris Harrison from promoting a competing dating show. It is unfortunate that Warner Bros. is targeting Mr. Harrison in this malicious and vindictive manner."

Fox Nation's lawyers invoke a familiar legal doctrine on the rose imagery: "falling rose petals are scènes à faire — stock elements long associated with the romance genre that have featured in films from 'American Beauty' to 'Moulin Rouge' to 'Beauty and the Beast.' Warner Bros. cannot keep for itself a trope it has borrowed from others."

The letter closes with a callback to the new series' own catchphrase: "'The Vow' exhorts its participants and viewers to 'Choose Love.' We trust Warner Bros. will do the same and drop its pursuit of these meritless claims."

"The Vow" is set to premiere Nov. 11 on Fox Nation, with six episodes rolling out weekly. The series follows eligible bachelor Jace Cats as he dates 10 women. Per the official description, the show will explore "whether shared values, faith, communication, and long-term goals can build a relationship designed to last long after the cameras stop rolling. At a time when much of modern dating culture is driven by fleeting connections and social media attention, the series offers a different approach by placing the focus on meaningful relationships, commitment and building a life together."

Harrison hosted "The Bachelor" and its many spinoffs from the series' inception in 2002 until his controversial exit from the franchise in 2021.

The dispute sets up a test of how far franchise aesthetics — roses, mansions, the very vocabulary of televised romance — can be protected under trademark and copyright law, with a resolution likely to shape how competing dating shows market themselves long before "The Vow" reaches its finale.