OverThere: Hollywood music mogul David Geffen appeared to give up a long-running fight to bar people from walking across his exclusive Malibu estate to reach a stretch of beach last week.

Keys to wooden gates blocking the path across Geffen's property were turned over to non-profit group Access for All last week as lawyers neared a settlement of the dispute - but this Monday afternoon, the gates were locked again.

In 1983, Geffen made a legal promise to provide access from the nearby Pacific Coast Highway to the beach as a condition for receiving permits allowing him to expand his beachfront estate. He made an "offer to dedicate" land for a public walkway through his property, but no action was taken until 2002 when Access for All was granted authority by the state to pursue the opening of the walkway.

Geffen challenged the access in court, but a Los Angeles judge has consistently ruled against him. Still to be determined is how much Geffen, a co-founder of the DreamWorks SKG studio, may have to pay in fines and attorney fees. Public enjoyment of beaches is an emotional issue in California, where surfing is a way of life and access to the coast from Oregon to Mexico a matter of state policy.