Campbell’s Soup Files Trade Dress Suit Over Political Campaign

Campbell’s Co. sued Shelby Nicole Campbell and her campaign for heavily utilizing its famous soup can trade dress in promotional materials as part of her bid for a seat in Congress.

The Democrat has heavily leaned into her shared name with the brand by distributing stickers and making online posts featuring iconic trade dress, according to the complaint filed Oct. 10 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The candidate also publicized Campbell’s cease-and-desist letter sent last month in a bid to further capitalize on its goodwill, the suit said. She posted the letter on social media and said she thought the publicity would “make me blow up and really win congress easily I ain’t scary byeeee.”

The suit could test the boundary of a First Amendment defense, as the complaint notes that Campbell told the company “I know about the parody defense.” The company rejected the suggestion that the use constitutes parody, and points to a post where Campbell says—under the handle “soup4change"—that “we know you all love the Campbell’s soup cans lol.”

Last year the US Supreme Court created a precedent that limits parody defenses when the use of the trademark comes in a source-identifying context. In a case involving a dog toy shaped like a Jack Daniel’s whiskey bottle laden with poop puns, the justices said parody can’t shield use of a mark to designate source from a trademark dilution claim, which also doesn’t require likely consumer confusion.

Campbell said in a statement she’s never implied Campbell’s Co. endorses her, and called the suit “nothing more than a corporate attempt to silence political speech.” She said her campaign is “about challenging corporate power” and not “selling soup.”

“I’ve publicly criticized corporate influence in politics and made it clear that my campaign stands in opposition to it,” she said. “Big corporations are afraid of movements they can’t control, and they’re trying to use trademark law as a weapon to intimidate and distract.”

The soup company says the candidate for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District distributes stickers featuring a can with “Campbell” in its classic cursive on the brand’s red-over-white trade dress with “Soup For Change 2026" where the flavor would go. She has posted herself on social media holding the sticker next to an actual Campbell’s soup can, it said.

Campbell’s said social media users have repeatedly asked whether it endorses the candidate, indicating actual confusion. The use is “designed to capitalize on Campbell’s iconic brand” and associate her with the brand, it said.

Campbell’s also said other Campbell-named politicians have agreed to stop using their trade dress once the company objected.

Foley & Lardner LLP and Braunhagey & Borden LLP represent Campbell’s.

The case is Campbell’s Co. v. Campbell, E.D. Mich., No. 2:25-cv-13213, 10/10/25.