Knowledge Bases: Copyrights or just Copy? [closed]

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I was throwing around some ideas on how certain things work like the spell check feature on firefox and suggested terms on a yahoo search (using google as an example is so cliche and not applicable ;). Microsoft Word, for example, acts sort of like a knowledge system in that it can make certain suggestion about spelling and grammar.

If I decided to go and make a knock off progrom like "Hydro's OpenWriter", I would need a dictionary of words to store in a database to query. Would I use Webster's Dictionary? Oxford? The point is that it is in fact reference material, but still has a copyright. Does google maps use Natiaonl Geographic's World Atlas? (on Amazon.com for $102.00). There's time and money that goes into the research, compilation, and redistribution of information. Yet, its everyday information being used.

Is it indeed free to use in programming applications? Is that an infringement to the authors? Is it legal? Is it ethical? Are we as programmers responsible for doing original research to build a knowledge base?

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IMO, red flags go up the moment you start trying to copy anything that is paid for or offered as a product by another entity. I also think you should probably consult with a lawyer rather than an online Q/A forum for this type of question.