Free Software/Free Science

This paper explores the comparison often made between Free Software and scientific research, and the tendency to discuss both endeavors by positing a role for reputation as the currency of value. It discusses a handful of examples from the history and social study of science to explain how scholars have approached similar issues in understanding scientific activity. It also offers some speculations on the relationship between the metaphorical currency of reputation and real money, and that between metaphorical and actual intellectual property.