Key Highlights
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+ have disappeared from Disney+ in some European countries.
- The issue is likely due to an ongoing patent dispute between Disney and InterDigital.
- Disney has stated that the problem is “technical challenges,” but reports suggest legal issues are at play.
- Dolby Vision was first removed from Germany, followed by other European countries.
The Mysterious Case of Missing HDR on Disney+
It’s a strange and somewhat unsettling development in the streaming wars: Dolby Vision, a premium feature that enhances picture quality, has vanished from Disney+ in several European countries. The removal of this technology is raising eyebrows and sparking speculation about its true cause.
The Vanishing Act
According to reports, viewers in Germany were among the first to notice the absence of Dolby Vision on their screens. Following that, the feature was also removed from other European countries like France, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, and Poland. The US support pages have also mysteriously dropped references to Dolby Vision, adding another layer of confusion.
Technical Challenges or Legal Battles?
Disney has attributed this issue to “technical challenges,” but many industry experts are skeptical. FlatpanelsHD points out that the removal could be due to legal reasons rather than technical ones. The company is currently embroiled in a patent dispute with InterDigital, a firm known for its video compression patents.
The timing of the disappearance is noteworthy: Dolby Vision vanished from Germany shortly after the Regional Court Munich ordered Disney to stop infringing on a specific video compression patent. This legal battle may explain why the feature has since disappeared from other countries as well.
A Global Concern?
It’s not just Europe feeling the impact of this change. Viewers in Nordic countries are also reporting that Dolby Vision and HDR10+ have vanished, suggesting a broader issue at play. The fact that Disney is rewriting its support pages to remove mentions of these features further hints at a strategic decision rather than a temporary glitch.
For now, 4K UHD and regular HDR support remain available on Disney+, but the loss of Dolby Vision is significant for those who appreciate premium picture quality. It remains to be seen whether this issue will spread globally or if it’s confined to certain territories due to legal reasons.
A Business Decision?
Disney hasn’t officially confirmed that the removal of Dolby Vision is related to the patent dispute, but the timing and scale of the change make such a connection quite plausible. If this is indeed a business decision rather than a technical one, it could have far-reaching implications for Disney’s streaming strategy and relationships with content creators.
For now, tech enthusiasts and movie buffs are left wondering: Will Dolby Vision ever return to Disney+, or has this been a strategic move by the company? The answer might come down to how these legal battles play out in the coming months.
