Dr Pepper - Open mouth - Insert foot

**Wes** · #1 11-26-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

From Billboard.com via GNR publicist / By Andre Paine, London / Guns N' Roses' and Axl Rose's lawyer has castigated Dr Pepper, accusing the soda maker of failing to deliver on its "Chinese Democracy" (Black Frog/Geffen) free soda promotion, which the band was never involved in.

Beverly Hills-based Alan Gutman has written to Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. president and CEO Larry Young, accusing the company of operating an online redemption scheme that was an "unmitigated disaster which defrauded customers." Gutman is demanding that Dr Pepper makes good on its offer by extending the period for the offer; he also wants full-page apologies in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Gutman's letter makes clear his view that the original campaign was an "exploitation of my clients' legendary reputation and their eagerly awaited album" and "brazenly violated our clients' rights." He is also seeking an "appropriate payment... for the unauthorized use and abuse of their publicity and intellectual property rights," with the threat of further action if an acceptable offer is not made. "Now is the time to clean up the mess," says Gutman.

Rose did not take any action when, in March, Dr Pepper put out a press release offering free soda to any American if the long-awaited Guns N' Roses album came out before the end of 2008. However, Rose has reacted to the news that fans have been unable to get their soda following the Nov. 23 release of "Chinese Democracy." Dr Pepper's Web servers crashed under the demand for coupons that could be exchanged for free drinks. Dr Pepper extended the Nov. 23 promotion for an extra day, but the company's Web site was inaccessible for a substantial part of it. "Dr Pepper was completely unprepared for the traffic to its site," says Gutman in the letter, describing the promotion as a "complete fiasco."

Gutman adds: "The entire point of your campaign has been to use public interest in Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses as a lure to increase consumer awareness of Dr Pepper." He further states that "mocking undertones" in the online promotional content represent a "raw and damaging commercial exploitation of our clients' rights," adding that the association is "even more damaging in light of your shoddy execution of your disingenuous giveaway offer."

The soda maker declined to comment. Dr Pepper was considering extending the promotion, according to a source close to the situation.

Source: MelodicRock.com - Melodic News, Reviews, Interviews and Previews

Dr. Pepper made the mistake of assuming that Chinese Democracy would probably never be released and they promised if it was release by year's end, that every person in America would get a free Dr Pepper.

Now they want to back out.

Should have thought of that before you went out and made an ad. Or at least have a decent server that could handle the number of hits.

**Brian F** · #2 11-26-2008, 10:42 PM

The article words it as if Axl only has one lawyer. I find that INCREDIBLY hard to believe

Besides, Dr Pepper is in the clear. "Chinese Democracy" is NOT a Gun's N Roses album, anyway. It's just Axl.

If Slash ain't there, the soul of GnR isn't there, no matter what that talent free crackhead Axl calls it.

**Wes** · #3 11-26-2008, 10:44 PM

A friend of mine saw him and the new GNR last year, and he had 3 guitarists.

I guess it takes 3 normal guys to play what one Slash played. lol

I wish Slash and he would get over their differences and get back together. Slash's new/last band was not that good. Velvet Revolver was lacking IMO.

**Brian F** · #4 11-26-2008, 10:49 PM

I disagree- Slash even made Axl tolerable.

**Leo C** · #5 12-03-2008, 07:06 PM

I cashed in and registered for a free Dr. Pepper coupon. It'll come in soon.

Thunderhawk · #6 12-03-2008, 10:07 PM

^^^Ditto. Velvet Revolver was the kind of band that I didn't skip over if a song of theirs was playing on the satellite radio, but they had nothing to make me go out and buy their CDs (yes, I buy CDs, they sound better than MP3s). They lack that intangible "it".

Raptor · #7 01-01-2009, 08:23 PM

I heard that one song on the radio from the album and its freaking terrible. GNR should be sued instead for um... still existing.

**Leo C** · #8 01-01-2009, 10:25 PM

I got my coupon in the mail and enjoyed my Dr. Pepper.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode