A nice summary article of the current state of affairs for quadcopters

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/local-news/droning-in-paradise-theyre-here-but-quadcopter-limits-coming-to-spy-society_26140208

"Lemasters lists three categories of UAV use:
Hobbyists, he says, are in it 'for their own pleasure,' much like R/C enthusiasts. Hobbyists are also likely following at least some of the 46-page Academy of Model Aeronautics guidelines for model aircraft pilots, including a minimum safe distance for operations within an airport. For example, the FAA says that anyone flying a model aircraft within five miles of any airport must notify the control tower; a large slice of beachfront Naples falls within that area.
The next category — folks getting technology off the Internet and launching it into the air without so much as a by-your-leave — is the one that’s potentially causing the FAA headaches. These users fall in between professionals playing strictly by the rules and boys with their toys.
Those may include photographers sending a UAV over a beach wedding or real estate companies doing aerial photos — all are technically in violation of FAA rules if money changes hands for that service. For example, the FAA says that anyone flying a model aircraft within five miles of any airport must notify the control tower; a large slice of beachfront Naples falls within that area.
Larger 'professional corporate entities,' such as enerGies, treat UAVs (and their pilots) as any other valuable resource. enerGies conducts a 100-page site survey and risk assessment before ever unboxing its Lockheed Martin Indago VTOL UAV. The feather-light machine, which costs between $20-$40,000 depending on its payload, has a 45-minute flight-time and programmable controls."

this is a good summary article for current uses of drones, and their uncertain legal status.