Disney+ Drops Dolby Vision Support in Certain European Countries

Disney+ has recently faced significant changes regarding its HDR features, particularly concerning Dolby Vision support in certain European countries. This shift has been reported by various sources, including TechRadar and FlatpanelsHD.

Loss of Dolby Vision Support

Subscribers in countries such as Germany, Portugal, Poland, France, and the Netherlands no longer have access to Dolby Vision on Disney+. The issue was first flagged by German users on Reddit, highlighting a widespread concern among the streaming service’s audience.

Technical Challenges or Legal Issues?

Disney issued a statement noting that the unavailability of Dolby Vision is due to “technical challenges.” The company is actively working to restore this feature and plans to provide updates soon. In the meantime, 4K UHD and HDR support remain intact on devices that support these formats.

However, the situation may be more complex. FlatpanelsHD suggests that the issue could also stem from legal complications. In November 2022, a German court granted an injunction to the company InterDigital against Disney. This legal ruling was based on a violation of one of InterDigital’s patents related to streaming video technology.

Impact of the Court Ruling

The specific injunction requires Disney to cease infringing on a patent concerning the dynamic overlay of video streams, which could potentially affect the way Dolby Vision is delivered. While the exact connection between this legal matter and the absence of Dolby Vision support in Europe remains uncertain, it does provide some context for the initial reports from German subscribers.

Global Implications

Interestingly, the implications of this situation may extend beyond Europe. Mentions of Dolby Vision support have also been removed from the Disney+ video quality support page in the United States. Although InterDigital has not secured an injunction in the U.S., the ongoing patent case against Disney in California raises questions about potential future changes.

Current Status of HDR Features

• Dolby Vision support is unavailable in Germany, Portugal, Poland, France, and the Netherlands.
• Disney cites technical challenges for the absence of Dolby Vision.
• 4K UHD and HDR support remains available.
• Legal issues stemming from the InterDigital injunction may impact Disney+ operations.
• HDR10 is currently listed as the default HDR format on Disney+ in affected regions.

As the situation develops, Disney is expected to provide further information regarding the return of Dolby Vision support on Disney+ in Europe. The company’s efforts to resolve both technical and legal challenges are ongoing, and updates will be shared with subscribers as they become available.