In re Catapault Entertainment, the dot-com must get authorization from its licensor to use or sell the patented technology. Without the patented technology the dot-com may have little value. Prospects for near term profits dim. Given the recent shake out, a dot-com finds greater pressure to turn a profit early. The uncertainty created as near term profits dim may mean that key employees will leave as they look for a more certain future.
Key customer has financial difficulties.
The dot- coms dependence on one another can have a domino effect when one fails. Using tax money to pay bills . Should a dot-com lose its financing source, it may, out of desperation, use money earmarked to pay taxing authorities. Ignoring your e-mails and calls . Highlighting this risk is the recent trend of law and accounting firms asking for cash retainers instead of a portion of the equity of their dot-com customer.