software piracy

It depends on where you are in the world and what the Local Laws are.

All of this type of software calls mommy all the time for things like updates and so on, it also wants Mommy to accept it so if it is a new install it needs to be activated or whatever so another call to Mommy.

Not sure about Autocad but I do know Microsoft uses these Call Home Requests to Track Pirated Software and can or more correctly has in the past started Legal Action against those caught using Software incorrectly installed on a computer. In the past they have started Court Proceedings against some people/companies who they have caught using Pirated Software so it is Possible.

But as I said previously this depends on what the Local Laws allow.

This is also why several Western Governments have Black Listed Huawei because they can not see what Huawei send out as Updates and what they actually do as apposed to what they could do.

I hope that helps some.

The older versions of autocad have 'perpetual' licenses, which means, as long as you have bought the license, you can use the software in perpetuity.

NOW, pirated software is another topic entirely, if they find out you're using software that you do not own the license to, no matter the version, they can send legal notice to your company.