Yes I think it is fair to say there is some confusion, and it is a moving target so Google and read something from a couple of years ago and the confusion can easily ramp up. My understanding:
There are 2 programs: Maya, and Maya LT. Maya has 3 licensing models: Full, Indie and Student. Maya LT just has one licensing model.
Maya Student is zero cost to the student, but nowadays you need to prove you really are a student at a qualifying teaching organisation to get the licence. In the past anyone could claim to be a student and get the license.
Maya Indie, as a licensing model, is only available in some countries (the list grows) and there are revenue and business model restrictions. Broadly these prevent very large studios exploiting the cheap license, but allow for (almost all) individual artists, and those who do it just for fun to get the full functionality at a bargain price. Trust me if you exceed the revenue limits you can afford to pay full price!
Full, as a licensing model, is designed for companies who have many licenses.
You run the same program regardless of if you are Student, Indie or Full. It is essentially a trust model if you are in a country that has Indie you self declare yourself eligible and buy that license. Cheat and Autodesk may, or may not, find you out.
Maya LT is a different program with well publicised limitations (no rendering, export limits etc). But there are no revenue or business mode limitations. For a segment of the market - large companies who have many Maya seats and can work with the limitation - they will buy Maya LT.
