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

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

CaptainBasculin, (edited )

If you earn/get big enough to care about it, then you would in the first place. Most software piracy busting methods revolves around existence of a snitch who knows you’re pirating. You definitely can get away with it if you’re just pirating it yourself, but a corporation with like 100 workers cannot do it when all it takes is one person to get busted.

On sound effects / samples it depends on how many people see it, so you don’t need to worry too much unless you get popular similarly.

Sheik, (edited )

For assets, you would be distributing other people’s work without permission. Some companies scan online content for digital fingerprints of copyrighted material. Think Youtube content ID but they are other tools out there.

As for software you used without a license, the work you did doesn’t matter in that regard, you’re only liable for using unlicensed software by bypassing copyright protection methods. You’re not distributing it. Their DRM (even cracked) might send them enough identifiable information to sue you (in theory).

ninjan,

They don’t. But if you get big and along the way in a throwaway comment on Patreon mentioned you use the Adobe Suite and other tools they’ll look into that and if you don’t pay they’ll send a very stern letter demanding payment.

Generally for Joe Schmo if they’re found out it stops at a letter demanding payment, and if you don’t pay it likely won’t escalate, especially if you deny the accusation. But for someone making a profit they’ll get their money and it’s a major headache and just not worth it considering you are making money far exceeding the rather small cost.

originalucifer,
@originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com avatar

most of the applications 'phone home', often constantly after installation. often, source files will include a serial number embedded in metadata in source projects, that can be traces to a license.

there are many methods, but if you protect yourself (air gapped equipment) and cleanse your output you should be ok. that said, there are new techniques out/on the horizon with embedded data that would not be removable.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
  • localhost
  • All magazines
    •
    Loading…
    Loading the web debug toolbar…
    Attempt #