Earlier this month, we reported that Heineken was forced to remove an ad featuring a cover of the Dead Kennedys' "Too Drunk to Fuck" over concerns that the promo spot would encourage binge drinking. Now, the plot thickens, as the Dead Kennedys claim they never gave permission for the song's use in the first place.
A press release from the group insists that the band had no involvement with the campaign from the very beginning. The band's statement reads as follows:
Dead Kennedys emphatically deny that they ever gave Heineken permission to use the song. The band's attorneys have contacted Heineken to address the unauthorized use. Dead Kennedys have never authorized any company to use this song or any of the band's songs to promote a consumer product (let alone the consumption of alcohol) in this or any advertisement.
In other words, not only was Heineken in the wrong for potentially promoting binge drinking, but it may have also infringed on the group's copyrighted material. That's not even touching the point that the original song is intended as a parody of bar culture.
No word yet on if the Dead Kennedys plan to take any further legal action over this matter or if they're just attempting to wash their hands of the whole thing.
A press release from the group insists that the band had no involvement with the campaign from the very beginning. The band's statement reads as follows:
Dead Kennedys emphatically deny that they ever gave Heineken permission to use the song. The band's attorneys have contacted Heineken to address the unauthorized use. Dead Kennedys have never authorized any company to use this song or any of the band's songs to promote a consumer product (let alone the consumption of alcohol) in this or any advertisement.
In other words, not only was Heineken in the wrong for potentially promoting binge drinking, but it may have also infringed on the group's copyrighted material. That's not even touching the point that the original song is intended as a parody of bar culture.
No word yet on if the Dead Kennedys plan to take any further legal action over this matter or if they're just attempting to wash their hands of the whole thing.
