The Declaration of Rights of Artificial Life Forms was an amendment of the Articles of Federation that was issued by the United Federation of Planets and came as a result of the discovery of the android Data in the 24th century. This Federation Grand Alliance Document 3.427610.63 declared that under the laws of the Federation, any being - be they organic or artificial in nature - shall be given full rights as well as equal respect along with consideration under the law. The declaration came only into effect in individual cases when it was determined that said being was proven to exist as a sentient life form. (FASA RPG module: Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual)