Sometimes saying you're sorry and admitting you were wrong really does fix everything -- because a lawsuit over the Britney Spears hit song "Hold It Against Me" was dismissed for just that very reason.

As TMZ first reported, Dr. Luke (along with fellow co-writer Max Martin) sued the Bellamy Brothers for defamation after they went around bad-mouthing the song and saying it was just a rip-off of their 1979 song, "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me?"

But according to court documents filed last week, Dr. Luke dropped his lawsuit after the Bellamy Brothers admitted the Britney song was not a copy of theirs.

Both sides agreed upon an apology, which reads in part: "The Bellamy Brothers apologize to Dr. Luke and Max Martin for the Bellamys' public statements and any false impressions suggested by the statements on their website that Dr. Luke and Max Martin copy the works of others."

No damages were awarded.

 Britney Spears' songwriter just launched a legal counter-attack over her number 1 hit "Hold It Against Me" -- suing The Bellamy Brothers for publicly claiming the song is a rip-off.



In a federal lawsuit filed today, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald says The Bellamy Brothers launched a "smear campaign" by claiming Brit's hit -- co-penned by Gottwald -- was just a knockoff of their 1979 song ... "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me?"

Gottwald also claims the Brothers' attack was "a publicity stunt aimed to increase their record sales ... and to combat their dwindling relevance." Ouch.

In addition to damages for defamation ... Gottwald wants a court order stating once and for all Britney's song has nothing to do with the BB's song.  

The Bellamy Bros. rep didn't immediately return a call for comment.