Marketplace

American Airlines plans to make coach seats thinner and adjust legroom in the economy section. How much is an inch worth, to both parties? How much more money with American Airlines make from the move? And will passengers be more willing to pay for upgraded seats? Also, how the NSA surveillance story may be a harbinger about the future of the internet.

Happy Birthday -- to copyright? Documentary filmmaker Jennifer Nelson is challenging the copyright to the happy birthday song after being  asked to pay $1,500 to use the tune in her film. And we wrap up our series on the consumer economy by looking at opportunity cost and the value of things.

Every once in a while we like to take a step back and look at the big picture. This week, the Sustainability desk did just that with "Consumed."

You think our housing collapse was bad? Try thinking about what the homesteaders went through 100 years ago. Our series looking at the consumer economy continues. Also, the Supreme Court decides that human genes can't be patented. 

Google, Microsoft and Facebook are calling on the U.S. government to reveal how often they get national security requests for information. The Internet companies are fighting the perception they were willing participants in the National Security Agency's widespread monitoring of electronic communications. Also, Pandora buys a small radio station South Dakota for what it hopes are big savings. And our "Consumed" series continues, as we delve deeper into the half-life of the consumer economy.