Four years after the copyright dispute over the Bad Boys franchise began, George Gallo and Columbia Pictures have reached a settlement. The parties have agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Details of the settlement are confidential, but both sides are reportedly satisfied with the outcome. Gallo, the original author of the story that inspired the first Bad Boys movie in 1995, had argued that his work was not a "work for hire." Columbia countered with a breach-of-contract suit, asserting their rights to make derivative works. While the legal battle may be over, the success of the latest Bad Boys film, Ride Or Die, demonstrates the continued popularity and profitability of the franchise.