This is why, as a freelancer, you _always_ negotiate for a time contract (getting paid for hours - not even for chunks of work) and upfront payment. Expecting to get paid for work that may or may not get approved is almost asking to get in trouble. (Almost - of course, I'm not blaming Mike for signing an unfair contract, I hope he wins this.)

A big company already has enormous power over a lone person, no need to give them more. If ID didn't crank their assholeness up to 11 and try to publicly smear Mike, Mike would surely lose this in court.