DETROIT - As he did in 2003, a Wayne County judge has dismissed an invasion of privacy case brought by former Detroit officials against Dr. Dre.

Former police officers and the press secretary for former Mayor Dennis Archer accuse the 42-year-old rapper, whose real name is Andre Young, of improperly videotaping a backstage conversation at a concert in 2000.

A DVD set that showed the exchange was later released.

Circuit Judge John Murphy ruled the city workers had no reason to think the conversation was private. They had appealed Murphy's previous ruling.

Murphy's latest decision, issued Dec. 4, was released Monday.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Murphy's ruling was a surprise, because in October he said he was inclined to let the case go to trial.