Some years ago I got several accusatory, lawyer-ish letters from a company claiming to be a national Autodesk reseller and affiliated to a global anti-software-piracy organization. They said they had reliable information that I was using an unlicensed Autodesk product and they demanded a list of all installed Autodesk software and full serial numbers for each. If I refused, they threatened me with a surprise on-site inspection, confiscation of hardware, compulsory purchase of a full license for the software concerned, and a hefty fine.

I couldn't figure out if this company was just trying their luck, or if it was someone pranking me by giving them my name, or mistaken identity or a scam, but the letters were getting more threatening, so I phoned the company (it was legit and so was the anti-piracy org) and spoke to the guy in charge. I told him I didn't appreciate the tone of the letters, I don't use Autodesk products and never have (and now most certainly never will), and would never send any serial numbers to a third party even if I did. He apologized for the tone of the letters, but said this was very serious, his source was dependable and they would take action. He wouldn't tell me the source or which software I was accused of using, so I told him they could go f*** themselves and face legal action if they ever harassed me again. The letters stopped and I never heard from them again.

Then last year I needed to re-install some ancient Algor finite element analysis software on a new computer and needed an updated serial number. It turns out Algor was taken over by Autodesk at about the time those letters started, so I guess that's the connection. If they'd said "Dear former Algor user, welcome, you're now an Autodesk user" they might have made a better impression, don't you think?