Movie Games, the publisher behind the Drug Dealer Simulator series, has clarified its stance regarding the ongoing copyright investigation into TVGS, the Australian developer of the recently released Schedule 1. Despite some public backlash and media misreporting, Movie Games insists it holds “no ill will” toward the indie studio.
In a statement to Game Rant, a Movie Games representative addressed what the company believes has been a widespread misunderstanding of the situation. The investigation, they say, is a standard legal procedure and not a lawsuit or attempt to shut down the competing game.
Between 2020 and 2024, Movie Games published two Drug Dealer Simulator titles developed by Byterunners. Then, in March 2025, Schedule 1 launched on Steam, offering a similar premise focused on drug trading. Soon after its release, Movie Games announced it was investigating potential copyright infringement, sparking a wave of criticism from players and fans—many of whom assumed legal action was imminent.
However, Movie Games says the purpose of the investigation is simply to determine whether any infringement occurred, based on early legal analysis suggesting the two games are “very similar.” The company emphasized that this isn’t a personal or targeted move against TVGS, but a requirement stemming from their obligations as a publicly traded company.
“If we ignored even a minor potential infringement, it could lead to serious consequences for negligence,” the spokesperson said. The company first disclosed the investigation via ESPI, a stock market communication platform used to notify investors of significant corporate events in Poland. Unfortunately, some media outlets misinterpreted this formal disclosure as the beginning of legal action.
Movie Games also addressed the review-bombing of the Drug Dealer Simulator titles that followed the investigation’s announcement. The publisher stressed that Byterunners, the original developer of those games, is not involved in the current legal review and has been unfairly targeted by frustrated fans.
As for next steps, the publisher did not provide a timeline for when the investigation will conclude. They confirmed, however, that the results—regardless of the outcome—will be shared transparently with investors through ESPI, just like the initial announcement.
Importantly, the company reiterated that it has no intention of blocking TVGS from continuing work on Schedule 1. In fact, they had even congratulated the studio on its launch before deciding that a formal review was necessary.
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