Rights: Definition from Answers.com

Individual liberties either expressly provided for in the state or federal constitutions, such as the right to assembly or free speech, or which have been found to exist as those constitutions have been interpreted, such as the right to an abortion; that which a person is entitled to have, or to do, or to receive from others, within the limits prescribed by law; an enforceable legal right; or the capacity to enforce that right; "a claim or title to or an interest in anything that is enforceable by law," 263 P. 2d 769, 773. See also civil rights; constitutional right; inalienable rights; inherent right; pre-emptive rights; subscription rights; vested[vested rights]; visitation rights; voting right; Voting Rights Act.

In securities trading, a negotiable privilege to buy a new issue of stock at a subscription price lower than the market price of outstanding stock. As a result of the subscription discount, rights have value and are often traded actively until they expire. Stock purchase rights are issued to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings. In cases where the corporate charter includes pre-emptive rights, a rights offering or similar mechanism is required. In other cases, rights offerings are used to aid in the distribution of a new issue by giving existing shareholders a convenient method to subscribe to the issue. Compare stock option; warrant.