Blind contest would be great add to contests (check example here: http://99designs.com/contests/35696 ) Blind Contest = Only contest holder can see entries and ofcourse designer himself, but others cant. That would be great because then designers dont copy others work/ideas and all designers can think themself what to do. And also Contest Holders get different style entries. Its so disturbing if someone copy your design and then all start to use same effect. I think that this can be great update to Contests
there's a difference. in 99design's blind contests, 1.) you can see the contestants' names, if not their designs, and 2.) at the end of the contests, all entries are shown. a "PM contest" on DP is totally blind. only the CH knows for sure what's happening, and unscrupulous ones have been known to announce a nonexistent "winner via PM", only to swipe one of the designs without paying the designer.
If the winning entry is through PM, it has to be shown publicly after the end of contest. I always PM my entries to protect myself from copycats as well as to save the concept for another contest in case it is not the winning entry.
that's definitely the fair thing to do, but as things are, there's nothing to force a CH into doing it if he/she doesn't want to.
If the OP refuses to accept PMs, they're not allowed to start a contest thread or any other deal thread, so report it. If they want a BST thread, they must accept PMs.