Momo's views on her and Marigold's relationhsip is interesting, as Marten and Pintsize are SO not equals.
The timeline on this gets a little complicated.
In this comic, Clinton asks Marten if the Artificial Intelligence Equal Rights Amendment (for lack of a better term) had "changed [his] relationship" with Pintsize. This questions, to me, makes it feel like the AIERA hadn't been ratified all that long ago - or, at the very least, that Marten already had Pintsize for quite a significant amount of time before the AIERA was ratified, and that the post- AIERA timeframe is comparatively shorter. So how long do we think that Marten has had Pintsize, and how long ago was the AIERA ratified?
Another interesting point is that we haven't seen Pintsize attempt to change the parameters of his and Marten's relationship since the AIERA was ratified - apparently new rights didn't imbue him with a desire to be treated differently. Not that Marten treats him poorly, clearly, but one would wonder if Pintsize might have legal recourse (not that he would exercise it) over being thrown against the wall, dented, put in the freezer, etc.
Contract aside, the relationship between Marigold and Momo is very much different, clearly one that exists on much more equal footing. Regarding today's comic - it is interesting that:
a) Momo is not "owned" by Marigold, since it's been fairly well established that Marten owns Pintsize and that
PT410X also has an owner. (In that comic, though, note that PT410X puts the word 'owner' in quotes. He doesn't consider himself owned - he had self-declared his independence before it was even law.)
b) Momo called the contract "standard." That would seem to imply said contract was not only established, but
commonplace at the time that Marigold and Momo signed it. That means that the AIERA has already been established for a significant amount of time, long enough for its changes to no longer be a cause to bat an eyelash. Jeph's comment further implies that sufficient time has passed (since ratification) for Emily to understand that questions of ownership and function (i.e. purpose) should be considered highly insulting.
All of this begs the questions:
1) How long has it been since the AIERA was ratified? (mentioned above, yes)
2) How quickly do cultural mores change in this world?
3) How long have Marigold and Momo been friends?
4) How long had Marten had Pintsize? (also mentioned above, yes)
Hmmm...