Which basically says do anything you want with it (and depending if there is a third term, you may not use my name to advertise it)

No, the terms are specific:

> Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. > Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

Fail to do either of these things, and you run into the same problem you would have by not complying with the GPL.

We may be splitting hairs here. The point is that you are free to use BSD code in your closed application without incurring the risk of being asked to choose between removing the code or open-sourcing the whole thing, which is the fear of some.

I imagine they don't mind complying with BSD terms.

"Copyright (c) <year>, <copyright holder> All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. * Neither the name of the <organization> nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. "

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Provided you properly credit the authors of the code you use, which you should be doing anyway, how do you run into problems by using BSD'd code in GPL'd code?

> Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

Like I said, copy and paste BSD code into your GPL code, and you run into the same problem.

> Provided you properly credit the authors of the code you use, which you should be doing anyway,

Exactly. Even the BSD license has provisions which you must do or you don't have the rights.

I'm not suggesting these rights aren't onerous or difficult to comply with. Rather, you can't just lift BSD code without following the license.