ok looks like i need to talk A while back when i had idk they bought one of the PR 6 directories which was using my template (Playpark). I found that site back when i used to search for my high pr backlinks and had it bookmarked and one time i came across and they had removed it. I went to their main website and emailed them a kind note where i didn't threat at all. I explained the situation that the design is owned by me and showed them the TOS, and i requested that they kindly put the links back or use another design. Few days later i got the email back from them. They replied in a very professional manner that when the site was sold the owner didn't mention that the design they were using was a free design. Directory owners often tend to say i have a site with a beautiful design and it is a pr 4 (it is a free directory) and i like to sell it. Now the owner thinks beautiful design meaning custom (common misinterception). So they reintacted my link and apologize for the mistake from their side and they said they'll now put in the order of a custom design for that site and we both went our own ways.
Interesting smub. When I sold freeze-directory.com to them, they offered me a private BIN of around $400 in sitepoint via PM. I said yes, providing they do not remove the footer links to my site and beacon directory, the sponsor. 2 weeks later when the sale was complete they removed my link. They always linkback to phpLD though, its strange.
perhaps you should've asked them to put the link back again but i can see where you are coming from ... they could've just lied to me about the fact and they are complete rippers...
I sold 2 directories to these guys, which used free templates, after a month the footer links are gone. But what is strange is that they still link back to phpld