DNForum is set to introduce a new annual membership fee of $750, which has shocked current members who have already paid for their memberships.
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These existing members, including Exclusive, Gold, and Silver tiers, will lose both visible and invisible benefits such as signature images and access to exclusive domain trading sub-forums. The introduction of new benefits for paid members by the new owner, Helmuts Meskonis, has caused a reaction from current members.
DNForum.com was established in December 2001 and registered as the oldest still active domain-focused forum on the internet. However, its ownership has changed several times over the years. The previous owner, Digital Candy UK, sold the forum to Helmuts Meskonis, who also obtained Acorn Domain Forum, a UK-based domain forum.
It seems there was a lack of due diligence by the new owner, who claims that he was not aware of the obligations the forum has to its existing paid members. Whoever removed the graphics displayed alongside each account's membership tier did so with apparent malice, eliminating membership distinctions—perhaps with an intent to perform what the new owners are now considering.
Although DNForum is the oldest domain forum, it's no longer the busy destination of choice for domain investors. Any attempt to enforce paid memberships afresh will be perceived as the fresh milking of a cow already devoid of milk. It remains to be seen how the introduction of these new memberships will impact DNForum's future.