Medium Voice

Blogs to the rescue was the cry when Hot Topic started selling a shirt that looked very similar to a design created by Seibei. After Seibei pointed this out on their blog, other blogs picked up on the story and defended Seibei. Most seemed angry at what appeared to be a very very close design with many calling it a flat out ripoff. In the end Hot Topic was able to get in contact with Seibei and work out a resolution both could live with. Hot Topic would continue to unload the current test batch of shirts and would purchase no more of the design.

All this brings up the idea of how powerful blogs are now. Could blogs be the savior to small time artists? Would the local news have picked up this story? I doubt it. So where to turn? Obviously if the blogosphere gets behind an issue they can command a powerful force. Would Hot Topic stop purchasing the shirts without the blogs’ help? Who knows. But most can agree the blogs made a statement loud enough to be heard in the Hot Topic offices.