With free templates you can download off the internet i dont mind leaving a back link to the authors site as it is there work, but i am right in thinking their "sponsor links" which they sell on dp you are well within your rights to remove them right?
If it is not mentioned by owner or in mentioned in License i think you can remove , but it is not quiet right as there is understanding usually when a distributor/owner has a link in product , users don't usually remove it.