It is difficult for me to figure out where to start with this.  I wanted to send an ask, but it wasn’t going to be long enough, and I was concerned fanmail or email would go unanswered. At least this way, if the OP’s do not see it, other people will and might learn something.

The image on the front (?) of the teacup is heavily referenced/modified from my work.  They’ve just had their heads flipped the other way and their positions reversed (along with their arms put in other places). 

Obviously, they’re more simply drawn, but I recognized this image immediately when I saw photos of this and I don’t recall giving permission for it to be used in any manner.

Deep Dish Nine is a universe anyone can play in, but individual work still belongs to the people who put it out there. It’s a respectful creative environment. We all make sure to make mention of when an element we’re playing with came from someone else, and often ask before we borrow it.  My DD9 story features the blue scarf on Julian, and the belt-coat I designed for Garak. In fact, this is the only image where I made that coat green because I wanted to the texture technique to be a little more obvious, so that was further indication that this was the image used.  It’s usually charcoal-colored.  

The logo you’ve used belongs to another artist who used to post in our tag, and while they may not be bothered by this like I am (so I’m not going to protest on their behalf or anything), their permission should have asked as well, just as a matter of form. Even if it appears to be something people are letting others use, it is polite and just smart to ask when doing something like this.

I mistakenly became very angry at the person who received this cup when I first saw it, thinking they had purposefully asked for someone else to make money by modifying something I’d made. This ended up upsetting both of us.  Admittedly, I was recovering from a huge loss when I made the accusation, so I was lashing out, but even if I hadn’t been, it might have been assumed that they were involved somehow anyway.

 I understand now that this set was made as part of a giveaway, and they had just directed you to the tag for reference, but if this had been a commission and you’d made money on a project that borrowed my work (and someone else’s), there would be a larger problem here and I’d consider asking for a license fee for you to modify my image.  I considered doing that anyway, but this is a happy little fandom and has helped me through so much that I’d rather just address this, explain that what I do for fun doesn’t make it less mine than what I do for pay, and go back to the thing I love.  

At this point, I’m requesting credit for the image you sourced so heavily, (you might consider doing the same for that logo borrowed from the other artist) and asking that you make careful decisions and do proper research when someone commissions you to do work based on something you’re not completely familiar with, to protect everyone involved.

Thanks.

(As a side-note, I don’t want to frighten anyone away from doing DD9 things! D:  There’s a difference between doing gift art for someone or using an element as a little nod and making something without even acknowledging or involving the originator.  You DD9 folks are immeasurably sweet - I’ve had more than one person ask to use the Post-It notes in Julian’s textbooks, and other people ask to reference the coat or the scarf or something else from my story - so I don’t want anyone to be afraid to draw Julian and Elim from my DD9 things!  I’m delighted with credit and getting to see! Just talk to me if you want to make something that isn’t art or writing~)