Posted today on engadget.com

...." Judge: FAA currently has no authority to regulate drones " ...

Link: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/07/judg ... -is-legal/

The Federal Aviation Administration may want to go through some rigorous testing before it allows commercial drone flights on a broader basis, but the National Transportation Safety Board isn't willing to wait that long. One of the Board's judges has determined that the FAA currently has no authority to regulate drones; the move effectively makes drones legal, and it spares a pilot from a $10,000 fine for shooting a commercial with his unmanned aircraft.

My understanding is that this would make it legal to charge for aerial photography and beer delivery using quad copters, as long as you stay below 400f, which is the existing model aircraft altitude rule. I think it was always legal to fly these things under 400ft, just not to charge for it until now.

The FAA was quick to appeal this decision and put a stay on the ruling.

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/ ... wsId=15894