Artlicensing

UPDATE: I am also adding another photo to this review as I continue to be harassed to remove the emails showing how I have been treated by this company. I am now being threatened with legal action for exposing the truth about how they treat the artist they license.
I signed with this slimy company several years ago. I made the horrible mistake of not having an attorney review the contract. NEVER sign a contract without an attorney. I was fairly new and did not have a connection with a good attorney experienced in art licensing. Since I did negotiate a 'non-exclusive' contract I felt somewhat safe in signing. A year later my art was seen in Hobby Lobby (great, right?) I knew they were the only company with that image. I got in touch to make sure it was legit (non-infringed) and they denied that the art came from them. Matt Appleman was a total jerk when I asked for help with the infringement. Long story short, after 3 weeks of stress thinking my art was stolen, and me contacting Hobby Lobby to notify them it was an infringement, they suddenly realized they are the ones who had licensed the image! But 'oops we didn't have that image in the contract'! What an UNPROFESSIONAL DISASTER! My art went in several major retailers and I made only peanuts (I NEVER got my royalties broken down after several requests) We recently tried to re-negotiate my contract. My great attorney could only describe the contract as 'excessively convoluted'. When I asked for changes they refused and said "At this time we just don't feel like this is the right fit for either of us."

This company signed a contract for a specific size of artwork 16 x 20 with specific elements. When the art was completed, they asked for the original files uploaded. Then, they refused payment, asking for a different size: 20 x 30 and said that a lot of details needed to be added. The payment and contract had been worked out in advance by "phone calls" and "emails", but the contract allowed Matt Appelman to refuse to pay if he needed changes. Although he had 'called' and given approval, and the final artwork was uploaded to him, and proof of him downloading through our Professional Website Server, he stated that he had not approved of the artwork. Changes were made, and sent to him after his "phone call" of approval. Then, an email came, asking for the new changed artwork at 20 x 30 to be sent. It was sent, and received. Two weeks later, no payment had been received. Then, he called again and asked for more changes, additional figures, like puppies, snowmen, a christmas tree, and the artwork was done over again! Approval came by "phone" - Nothing by email was communicated. All emails were ignored. Finally, the last artwork changes were done. Over 100 hours of design and illustration to meet his never ending changes. I emailed him again, and said that payment must be made in full before the artwork would be sent the fourth time. He now had 3 different beautifully illustrated versions of the same artwork and he was showing it on his website! No payment had been made. Finally, he emailed and asked why the fourth image had not been sent and that he would pay as soon as it was received. Angry, and fearful of his retaliation, the artwork was sent. Within two weeks, he paid by PayPal because the Bank Account he had was frozen. The PayPal fees deducted from his payment were huge. When he demanded additional new pieces (we had signed an agreement for 10 different pieces) I canceled due to his failure to communicate in writing in a timely manner. NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THE APPELMAN AGENCIES. THEY ARE CROOKS!