Patent Dispute: Disney+ Germany Lacks Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and 3D Support

A patent dispute between Disney and InterDigital is affecting Disney+ users in Germany. Due to a ruling by the Munich Regional Court, Disney+ can no longer stream content in 3D, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision in Germany. This means that users with premium subscriptions are missing out on the enhanced picture quality that these formats provide.

For weeks now, users have noticed the absence of dynamic HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+ on Disney+, even though they have premium subscriptions. Additionally, 3D content is no longer accessible on Apple Vision Pro devices through the Disney+ app, which was a popular feature for Apple users.

At first, users hoped it was a technical glitch, but it has become clear that Disney+ intentionally removed the HDR and 3D versions of content. Official help pages no longer mention Dolby Vision, and a notice stating that 3D content is not available in Germany has been added. Interestingly, users in the UK still have access to Dolby Vision and 3D content with their premium subscriptions.

Disney has not provided an explanation for the removal of these formats, but it is speculated that a patent dispute with InterDigital is the reason behind it. The Munich Regional Court ruled that Disney+ was infringing on InterDigital’s rights by streaming videos with dynamic HDR images, leading to a preliminary injunction against the streaming service. While Disney can legally challenge this decision, it could take time to reach a final resolution.

InterDigital, known for holding numerous patents in radio technology and video processing, has a history of patent disputes with major tech companies. Critics label them as patent trolls, but the company defends its practices, stating that it invests heavily in research and development.

For now, users in Germany will have to make do without HDR and 3D content on Disney+ until a final decision is reached in the ongoing dispute between Disney and InterDigital. It remains uncertain whether Disney will prevail or come to an agreement with InterDigital in the future.