Music | November 27, 2008 | 5 comments

Axle to Dr.Pepper: we want our Dr.Pepper!

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After the train-wreck that was Dr Pepper's "Free Dr Pepper for Everyone in America" campaign, Guns N' Roses are seeking an apology and they're threatening to take legal action if they don't get one.

Alan S. Gutman, Axl Rose's attorney, sent a letter to Dr Pepper CEO Larry Young to complain after the company's website crashed and left many fans unable to claim their free coupons. Gutman writes, "What happened on November 23 was a complete fiasco. In what could only be characterized as reckless indifference or complete stupidity, Dr Pepper was completely unprepared for the traffic to its site. Most visitors were greeted with error messages. Some people who got through to Dr Pepper's servers were told to call a toll free number, few of whom got through. Many walked away angry as Dr Pepper ... soured the momentous music event that was 'Chinese Democracy's' release."

"Our clients are outrated at your treatment of their fans and the American public in general. After it became clear that Chinese Democracy would be released in 2008, Dr. Pepper executive Tony Jacobs proudly proclaimed that Dr. Pepper would make good on its promise to give a free soda to everyone in America. It turned out that Dr. Pepper did not define ‘everyone in America’ the same way as ‘everyone in America’ defined ‘everyone in America.’" He later adds, "Had you wished to engage in a commercial tie-in with our clients, you should have negotiated a legitimate arrangement instead of hijacking their rights without payment. Rest assured, this misappropriation will not be free."

The band is requesting an extension of the free drink offer for fans who missed out as well as full-page ads to be put in major newspapers all across the country apologizing for how the giveaway was handled.

A Dr Pepper spokesperson replied with, "For us, this was a fun giveaway that has always been about the fans, and we’ve taken great steps to fulfill it." In the company's defense, they did extend the giveaway an extra day for all those who missed out when the site crashed.
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