The OP clearly stated that they are working with a tiny budget? That's how I know they won't be hiring an audio post studio?
The OP clearly stated "
If someone collaborating on your film (e.g. a composer, a vfx artist, an animator, an sound designer, etc)". He also stated that he has a "tiny budget". Add these statements together and the implication is that the OP is not using a commercial audio post house but collaborating with students or semi-pros. But, those students or semi-pros still need a studio, even just a basic home studio (laptop with audio software, sound card, table to put it on, a chair, couple of speakers, etc), because without a studio of some type you cannot create music or sound design. That's how I know the OP WILL be hiring a studio (even if they are paying little or nothing for it). Big commercial facility
or small home studio, Waves have gone after and won damages from
both!
The OP also made it clear that their main concern was that their short film might be audited. And I'm telling you, with no uncertainty, that short films don't get audited. That's not a thing!
And I'm telling you with absolute certainty that those involved in making short films do get checked up on and do get prosecuted. I had an ex-student (I used to teach music and sound for film at a university) who was writing the music for a short film and came to me with a letter from Waves demanding £5k for using pirate software. A month or so later a musician turned up at the uni asking if I knew where the composer was (the musician was owed £50, about $75) and asking who the producer of the short was. My ex-student had apparently moved, I never knew who the producer was, never heard from my ex-student again and I didn't know the musician either, so I've no idea what the outcome of it all was. In the case of Skyline which, unlike my ex-student's little home studio, was a major commercial studio, Waves went after the studio for contributory copyright infringement, not after the sub-contractor who had actually installed and used the pirate software.
What difference does it make if short films themselves never get audited but the makers of short films do?
Nice try Cracker but you specifically stated that "
Nobody is coming into your home to check that your software is legit. This isn't a thing that happens, not anywhere in the world." and: "
No one is checking any filmmakers for their software licences. That's not a thing, it doesn't happen.". These statements are provably not true and you had the gall to state publicly that I was making stuff up!!! You are also ignoring this statement/question by the OP: "
Alright, thanks for the feedback. My concern about my colleague made me consider that composer's and other people I've collaborated with may've used illegal software in the past. So it seems there is pretty little cause for concern. Is there anything I should do to make sure I'm not liable in the incredibly unlikely case that something did happen?
Keep on fighting if you want, but we both know that you have posted BS and are now just fighting in a vain attempt to try and save face!
G
Now work on comprehension skills and you'll be on your way. Seriously, you do this crap in just about every thread you're involved in, that's why you usually end up in an argument.