How do companies know if I use cracked software or assets for my personal gig?

Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ@lemmy.dbzer0.com – 117 points – 8 months ago

For context, I want to run a small personal gig (offering stuff on Patreon). Nothing too fancy.

In order to do that, I would need to use the Adobe suite, Windows, some audio and video effects, all requiring a commercial license.

In theory, I start to make money. How would Microsoft and Adobe know that I don't pay for their software?

If I use some audio effects, how would their owners even be able to tell / find my work? We're talking about basic sound effect, like rain, door knocks etc.

I've always been confused by this

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Chances of getting caught are next to nothing.

If you do get caught, you’re fucked. Like fucked. The legal headaches and costs going up against Adobe or MS will ruin you… forever.

With that said, pirating tools is one thing, but using other people’s loops or artistic work without approval is another matter altogether. And that kind of stuff will land you into all kinds of trouble, not to mention curb your work as talk will quickly get around in the community.

If you’re serious about becoming a musician or artist or a creative selling their work, reputation and community standing is like 90% of it.

And if you’re wondering how can an artist tell? We know our work. And people talk. Share stuff. Sooner or later, it’ll get around. The internet is still powered by people.

You would only likely get caught if you either do something stupid or someone tells Microsoft or Adobe with evidence, even then, the process to grass on them is a ballache, so if someone does actually take the time to do it, then you must have pissed them off so bad you might deserve it.

Why not use FOSS alternatives, or at least say you do?

If your stealing assets and IP, its just a matter of when you get caught, not if.

Name a single person who has been sued by Adobe for pirating their software.

John Ligma