Shelby Campbell Faces Lawsuit from Campbell’s Soup Over Trademark Infringement
A recent legal battle has emerged between Shelby Campbell, a candidate running for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, and Campbell’s Soup, a well-known soup company. The soup giant filed a lawsuit against Shelby Campbell for trademark infringement and false endorsement related to her campaign materials.
The lawsuit alleges that Shelby Campbell has been using Campbell’s Soup logo and can design in her campaign, which she has dubbed “soup4change.” Campbell’s Soup claims that this unauthorized use of their branding has led to confusion among customers, with some believing that the company is endorsing the candidate.
Despite receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Campbell’s Soup on Sep. 2, 2025, Shelby Campbell has continued to use the company’s logo in her campaign materials. In response to the legal action, she posted on social media, “Lmfao yall gonna me blow up and win congress easily I ain’t scary byeeee.”
Shelby Campbell explained that she created the campaign stickers using ChatGPT and found it amusing to incorporate the soup theme due to her long-standing nickname, ‘Shelby Soup.’ She expressed her frustration with Campbell’s Soup’s demands to stop using the term “soup,” stating, “They want me to stop saying soup, and that’s just so obnoxious…That’s something I won’t let them take from me.”
The lawsuit highlights the iconic nature of Campbell’s Soup can label, emphasizing its 150-year history and cultural significance, including references to Andy Warhol’s famous Campbell’s Soup Cans painting. Campbell’s Soup has previously pursued legal action against other entities, including a New York rival for similar trademark issues.
Shelby Campbell maintains that her case is distinct from previous lawsuits involving Campbell’s Soup, as she is not engaged in selling food products but rather advocating against corporate influence. The soup company is seeking a trial by jury and demanding that Shelby Campbell cease using their trade dress and remove any related material.
While the case attorney for Campbell’s Soup has not provided comments on the matter, Shelby Campbell has stated her intention to represent herself in court as the legal battle unfolds.
