Guns N' Roses vs Dr. Pepper

Guns N' Roses is threatening Dr. Pepper with legal action following what the group is calling "a complete fiasco" of a publicity stunt, according to RollingStone.com. The soft drink manufacturer promised everyone in the U.S. a free can of soda if the new Guns album, Chinese Democracy, came out before the end of 2008, and on the day of the record's November 23rd release, made a coupon available at the Dr. Pepper website for the free drink. But Guns lawyer Alan S. Gutman told Dr. Pepper CEO Larry Young in a letter that the company's website crashed due to the demand, causing "an unmitigated disaster which defrauded consumers and, in the eyes of vocal fans, 'ruined' the day of Chinese Democracy's release."

The band is seeking a public apology through newspaper ads, along with more time for people to claim their free soda and monetary damages. Gutman continued in his letter, "This campaign brazenly violated our clients' rights in numerous respects. Unfortunately, Dr. Pepper has now magnified the damage this campaign has caused through its appalling failure to make good on a promise it made to the American public . . . 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."

A statement sent by Dr. Pepper to the New York Times indicated that the company "took great steps" to ensure that everyone who requested a can of soda got one, adding, "This was one of the largest responses we have ever received for a giveaway."

One of Guns leader Axl Rose's lawyers told the Times that the band's representatives tried to collaborate with Dr. Pepper on the best way to distribute the soda, but that negotiations broke down.

Chinese Democracy, the first new collection of music under the Guns banner in 17 years, came out last Sunday (November 23rd) exclusively through Best Buy. It is predicted to sell around 300,000 copies in its first week of release, according to Hits Daily Double, which will probably be enough for a Number Two debut on the Billboard chart behind the new Kanye West album.

Chinese Democracy has topped the iTunes Rock Album chart around the world, hitting Number One in the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and others.