hame on Kevin Partner for not clearly establishing up front what the customer's rights would be

Is the client looking out for Kevin's interests? Then why should Kevin Partner also have to look out for the client's interest? It is not like businesses don't have access to lawyers or contract writers. Some companies have those people on staff, so to put the weight of this on the developer seems one-sided.

I also have little sympathy for most businesses now a days. Capitalism has moved from a balanced relationship between employer and employee. It has been replaced with business grabbing everything that is not nailed down, and if can be pried loose, it is not nailed down.

While those methods may work in the short run, they destroy his reputation in the long run

His choice, that is what is life is about making choices, good or bad.

While he may come off as a jerk for not being completely open there are a large number of people who are doing worse and it is completely legal. I am not a particular fan of Kevin Partner's method, I believe he is doing this because of the business environment we are now in. If he does not look at for himself, can he really depend on his customers to do so?