Quite recently I had a user comment on an icon I had submitted to my gallery, saying they would be interested in getting something similar as a commission when my slots opened again and also asking for help with animation. I told them commissions for that type of icon were open and gave them some advice on animating. They said thank you for the advice & linked tutorial, re-stated that they would be interested in an icon like that, so I again said that I had slots open for that type of icon and linked my commission-info this time. I thought all was fine and dandy.
However, this morning I got a note with a title giving me thanks for the inspiration and in the note they linked to a very similar-looking icon that they had made themself, stating that they are grateful I had provided the inspiration and that when they can get the money together, they'd be commissioning me.
The issue I'm having with this is that I did not give express permission for them to copy the icon, I merely linked some tutorials to help them with animating. The icon-description itself does link to my account with a "They are a great inspiration for my pixel-art", but they do not link to the exact submission and say they were inspired by it.
I know I can't copyright poses or icon-design and I have checked the pixel to see if any lines matched up, which is not the case. It's just a bit too close for comfort, really? Plus, it kind of gives off this vibe of "You were to expensive, so I copied it and made my own." I'm not quite sure how to respond as I don't want to cause drama or seem like I'm throwing a fit, but the entire situation has me quite baffled and I'm not quite sure how to respond to the note.
