In Richardson v. Roberts (1962) 210 Cal. App. 2d 603, the court ruled that a real estate broker could not recover a commission from an unlicensed broker. "It is unlawful for a real estate broker or salesman to split commissions or make other payments for services embraced within the Real Estate Act to any person who is not licensed under the act . . . .'It has repeatedly been declared in this state that "a contract made contrary to the terms of a law designed for the protection of the public and prescribing a penalty for the violation thereof is illegal and void, and no action may be brought to enforce such contract" ; and that "whenever illegality appears, whether the evidence comes from one side or the other, the disclosure is fatal to the case".' " ( Id. at p. 606.)