A ruling by a federal judge has lifted the cloud of potential legal liabilities for commercial operators of small drones, paving 

the way for broader adoption of drones by businesses including real estate agents, brokers and real estate marketing firms.

National Transportation Safety Board Administrative Law Judge Patrick Geraghty on Thursday dismissed the Federal 

Aviation Administration’s case against the only person it has atttempted to fine for drone use so far, saying FAA policy notices

 prohibiting commercial operation of drones were not produced through a formal rule-making process.

Unless and until the FAA drafts policies governing the operation of small drones through a rule-making process that allows for 

comment, it appears to have no authority to restrict their use at altitudes below 400 feet, Politico reports.

That’ll give some breathing room to companies that have been charging for drone services, like 

Heliscope, which produced drone tours for the Bethesda, Md.-based Wydler Brothers.