[okanat]

Rust libraries "have to" be permissive due to the way they are compiled. Rust's current compilation method requires everything to be compiled with the exact version of the compiler at the same exact setup due to lack of ABI compatibility guarantees. This means everything has to be compiled from source. LGPL doesn't work since it will force companies to release their entire source code.

Without the ease for proprietary software development Rust wouldn't get as popular nor it would receive the same support from big tech. Without that popular support it wouldn't be as performant, nor it would attract the top system programmers it did.

It is also extremely naive to think that copyleft licenses aren't actively violated. It is rampant and at this point violating them is the industry standard actually. Making software effectively "ownerless" by accepting many independent developers makes it also equally hard to defend its licenses. The socioeconomic system of the West prioritizes private ownership. Without a clear private owner (or a consortium acting on behalf), it is hard to defend GPL and the rights.

[beeflet]

a permissive license is essentially the worst case scenario for a violated copyleft license