I've been waiting for some comment on this thread about Gene
Roddenberry's excellent answer to the question "Do intelligent,
self-aware robots have rights?" in the episode of Star Trek TNG in which
Captain Piccard helps Lt. Cmdr. Data fight for his right to remain on
the Enterprise against the android expert from Star Fleet headquarters
who wants to take him back and run experiments on him. Those who saw it
must remember its message.