Nope his reasoning is flawed like what ibminer said he is responsible and it doesn't matter if the project developers didn't game him money to pay, he is the one who made a transaction to you that is why you are personally dealing with Intellectual Romanticist not the developers itself. He is liable for your fees and he should pay it. Same thing goes to participants who was not paid by the bounty hunters, they are the ones who gets tagged by DT members as they are also responsible for ensuring that participants gets the pay they deserve for the campaign, and your situation is not exempted by it.