Sharing code is a fundamental fact of life:
<quote> Bacteria have developed a second avenue of evolutionary creativity that is vastly more effective than random mutation. They freely pass hereditary traits from one to another in a global exchange network of incredible power and efficiency. The discovery of this global trading of genes, technically known as DNA recombination, must rank as one of the most astonishing discoveries of modern biology. Margulis describes it vividly: `Horizontal genetic transfer among bacteria is as if you jumped into a pool with brown eyes and came out with blue eyes.'
This gene transfer takes place continually, with many bacteria changing up to 15 per cent of their genetic material on a daily basis. As Margulis explains, `When you threaten a bacterium, it will spill its DNA into the environment, and everyone around picks it up; and in a few months it will go all the way around the world.' Since all bacterial strains can potentially share hereditary traits this way, some microbiologists argue that bacteria, strictly speaking, should not be classified into species. In other words, all bacteria are part of a single microscopic web of life.
In evolution, then, bacteria are able rapidly to accumulate random mutations, as well as big chunks of DNA, through gene trading. Consequently, they have an astonishing ability to adapt to environmental changes. The speed with which drug resistance spreads among bacterial communities is dramatic proof of the efficiency of their communication networks. Microbiology teaches us the sobering lesson that technologies like genetic engineering and global communications network, which are often considered to be advanced achievements of our modern civilization, have been used by the planetary web of bacteria for billions of years. ... ...
Bacteria, again, have played a major role in this evolution through symbiosis. When certain small bacteria merged symbiotically with larger cells and continued to live inside them as organelles, the result was a giant step in evolution - the creating of plant and animal cells . ... ...
Evidence has been accumulating that the microtubules, which are essential to the architecture of the brain, were originally contributed by the `corkscrew' bacteria known as spirochetes. ... ... </quote from "the hidden connections" by fritjof capra>
Even bacteria seem to "understand" the value of free sharing of code.
Mud, dust, rocks and other lifeless things alone don't seem to do any useful code sharing. Free code sharing seems to be a very important fact of life, at the very core of our evolutionary progress, and modern science may reveal more and more of the code sharing that occurs naturally all the time, as narrated by Fritjof Capra.
Sharing code is such a fundamental element of our very being, and its importance is most visible again from the spectacular success of the free software movement. Rapid progress in science and arts, is easier by adopting and sharing innovations. The very definition of life revolves around the ability to copy, share and improve the stock of code.
We ourselves are the ultimate products of code sharing and symbiosis. Any restrictions on free sharing of code would only result in sterile still born products that soon degenerate into lifeless mud. Through free code sharing alone, rapid progress, growth and better utilisation of resources is possible.
Happy Hacking :)