Скорее всего так и было. Вам прислали ссылку на фото, которое считают нарушением авторских прав. Поэтому сравните фото, которое загрузили вы и которое загрузил ваш друг и если фото одинаковые (робот это 100% выловил), то тогда разбирайтесь с вашим другом как он умудрился ваше фото закинуть раньше......
Но Шаттер все делает по закону и никакие мольбы, каяния, ошибки их не волнуют. Как финал, я получил от них письмо со след. содержанием:
Pursuant to Paragraph 14(d) of Shutterstock's Submitter Terms & Conditions, when you became a Shutterstock submitter you warranted and represented that: "the Content and all parts thereof are owned and/or controlled by you, unencumbered and original works and are capable of copyright protection in all countries where copyright or similar protection is available”.
You are submitting images that are directly linked back to a contributor who has a terminated portfolio with Shutterstock. Based upon this association and our investigation, we have determined that you made a material misrepresentation to Shutterstock.
Paragraph 4 of the Submitter Terms & Conditions gives Shutterstock the right to terminate any existing account " . . . for fraud, intellectual property infringement, violation of a third party's rights including those of privacy or publicity, artificially inflating downloads, submission of material that is obscene in nature, violent or that might be construed as defamatory, failure to comply with Shutterstock's guidelines as may be amended from time to time, or for any breach of the terms of this or any other agreement that you have with Shutterstock.”
As a result of the foregoing, Shutterstock has terminated your account. You may not open up a new account. Consider this matter closed.