I would think there would be big issues with this proposal from the standpoints of decorum, legitimacy and principle.

Irrespective of whether there is a financial side to the proposal there is too much leeway for misinterpretation of intent.

I do think that there may be ways around that and propose the following alternative. Host each forum with the same software but via different URLs while permitting there to be super easy navigation between the various sites via click links or buttons. This allows each "site" to be obvious as to whom it supports. Links between say 8052.com and Acme Emulators would be expected but may, on the 8052.com site, want to appear as sponsored connections. Similarly links between 8052.com and RoadRunner Tools would be an obvious addition but direct site to site links on public pages between Acme Emulators and RoadRunner Tools should be avoided.

Posters would surely be free to cross link forum entries via embedded links and your new search facility could present results from all sites upon request. But at the same time I suggest that the forum software should filter such embedded links and only honor those that link directly to forum posts and not other content pages.

Michael Karas