I would like a short list of important works of Science Fiction which deal centrally (or close to centrally) with the question of Machine Rights. By Machine Rights I mean something akin to Human Rights, but where the recipients of these rights are machines built by humans (or built by machines built by machines built by…[iterate n times] built by humans).
I know about Bicentennial Man already.
-FrL-
Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg (well, with androids, but it’s similar).
The “Adam Link” stories by Eando Binder was a very early exploration of the theme.
Thanks so far.
If you can say anything about whether, in the works you guys mention, it is assumed that the Machines in question have some kind of consciousness, I’d appreciate that as well.
It may seem obvious that machines portrayed as being that sophisticated would naturally be portrayed as having consciousness as well, but I have particular reason to watch out for any author who has speculated that we might grant rights to machines even if they aren’t conscious.
I’m interested in all stories about Machine rights, but if there happen by any chance to be any that fit the description I just gave, that would be especially interesting to me.
-FrL-
I don’t know if you’re only looking for literary works or not, but the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Measure Of A Man” deals with the rights of Data, as an android, and whether Starfleet has property rights over him.
Forgot to mention I knew about that as well, but thanks!
Just to save the effort of anyone kind enough to be helping me out here, I’m chiefly interested in literary efforts that could plausibly be thought of as “important”.
That’s a vague criterion, I know. 
-FrL-