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
A lot of the enforcement around this has to do with being tipped off. Microsoft doesn’t active go around checking that you’re using the community editions of their products at very small companies, but as soon as they catch wind that you might be using them at a large company they’ll run an audit.