BALTIMORE -- "To put it bluntly, in the words of the opponents of the proposed settlement, the donation of free software could be viewed as constituting 'court approved predatory pricing,' " wrote Judge Motz.
    The federal judge today rejected the proposed settlement to the confederation of more than 100 private civil suits against the company.
    "Furthermore, either placing Bill Gates' head on Mount Rushmore or putting his signature on the Constitution would be clearly unecessary. I fail to see how that would provide any mitigation of Microsoft's anti-competitive practices," continued Motz.