I have several questions that I think beg asking ...
Autodesk has specifically stated that unlocking and enabling features in LT is a violation of the EULA. Lets presume this means what it says ... any feature in AutoCAD LT, but turned off is a violation to turn it on.
We have now come to the point where one might ask and indeed it has been asked several times ... What features have been turned off and disabled in AutoCAD LT? Lets presume then that lisp processing and loading arx has been disabled and turned off. It would thus be a violation to utilize any code or device to enable AutoCAD LT to process lisp and load arx modules.
Ok, so now we are left with what can we do, both legally and ethically. Since the DMCA specifically infers that it is lawful to use programs in conjunction with AutoCAD LT, we must ask then does LT Extender and other similar programs enable AutoCAD LT to load arx and process lisp programs. If the answer to this is yes, then we simply stop here .. using these programs is a violation of the EULA, although likely not unlawful under the spirit of the DMCA.
Then is there any possibility, no matter how small, that a person might utilize a program similar to LT Extender to be able to utilize lisp and arx programs in AutoCAD LT. I think there is ... Let me explain my thought process ...
If we presume the functionality is there, then we are barred from turning it on, however there is nothing unlawful or unethical about recreating the functionality using portions of the program that are not turned off and disabled. So, lets say I am familiar with the internal workings of the core AutoCAD engine ... I could thus utilize the portion of the code which writes the objects to the drawing, queries the drawings, and otherwise interoperates with the drawing without ever turning on any disabled features.
If the functionality is not there, then the argument is based on a comparison that AutoCAD LT is different from full blown AutoCAD. Fair enough ... then is it unlawful or unethical to cause AutoCAD LT to act as though it is the full version of AutoCAD? I think the answer to this question is a resounding no. To make a similar comparison would be akin to telling a user that they may not utilize any functionality in notepad that would cause it to function similarly to Word.
One might argue that if a user wanted Word functionality then they should purchase Word ... except that Notepad is provided at no additional cost to the user and this handy dandy program makes Notepad all the rage.
If we apply the same thought process to AutoCAD, one would believe then that if a computer is able to make AutoCAD LT function the same as full AutoCAD without utilizing code specifically turned off, regardless if the feature "could" be turned on would be both legal and ethical.
Personally I think that any contention that a person should buy full AutoCAD if they want more features than AutoCAD LT supplies is misplaced.
So, the final question is whether AutoCAD LT has portions that are turned off and/or disabled. So far, I have no credible evidence to suggest it does ... and if it does, what those features might be. Comparing one product against another merely shows that the features of the products are different, just as Word is different from Wordpad which is different from Notepad, which is different from Edit.
