Drinks company Dr Pepper have said that they will not issue an apology over that much reported promotion, in which they offered a free can of the drink to everyone in America if Guns N Roses released their long-awaited album, 'Chinese Democracy', before the end of 2008.
When the record was released, Dr Pepper stuck to their word and invited everyone in America to come to their website and download a voucher to claim their drink on the day of the album's release. Unfortunately, America did so and crashed the company's servers. The promotion was extended for another day, but many were still left without their free drink.
As previously reported, Axl Rose's lawyers said in a letter to the company last week that the promotion had been an "unmitigated disaster which defrauded customers" and that it "brazenly violated my clients' rights". He added that the band would be seeking "appropriate payment" for the "unauthorised use and abuse of Guns N Roses publicity and intellectual property rights" and demanded that the company take full page adverts in The New York Times, LA Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal to apologise for the crashing servers.
A statement from Dr Pepper issued yesterday said: "We are disappointed that GNR's lawyers are turning a fun giveaway into a legal dispute. We simply commented on the delayed release of 'Chinese Democracy' and openly encouraged the band to release it before the end of the year. Axl even expressed support for our efforts earlier in the year. This was one of the largest responses we have ever received for a giveaway, and we're happy we were able to satisfy the thirst of so many Dr Pepper fans. We wish Guns N Roses the best with their album".