Disney+ has recently experienced a decline in streaming quality as features like Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 3D content have been removed. This change seems to be linked to an ongoing patent dispute in Germany, which may be affecting other European nations as well.
Impact of the Patent Dispute
The issues began to surface in late 2025, when notable German media outlets, including 4KFilme, reported that Dolby Vision and HDR10+ were no longer available on Disney+ in Germany. Despite being Premium subscribers, users can now only stream in the HDR10 format.
In January 2026, the German outlet Heise disclosed that these problems are connected to a patent lawsuit against Disney. The lawsuit claims that Disney infringes on patents owned by the American company InterDigital, which has led to a court-issued injunction affecting the streaming service.
Widespread Issues Across Europe
As of February, Disney+ subscribers in multiple European countries, including France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland, have also reported similar problems. Dutch media outlet Tweakers noted that Dolby Vision is likewise non-functional in the Netherlands. Reports from users in the Nordics on the Flatpanels forums echoed these concerns.
Disney has acknowledged the situation but has not confirmed a direct link between the patent dispute and the technical challenges users are facing. In a statement to FlatpanelsHD, Disney noted:
- “Dolby Vision support for content on Disney+ is currently unavailable in several European countries due to technical challenges.”
- “We are actively working to restore access to Dolby Vision and will provide an update as soon as possible.”
Removal of 3D Content
Alongside the disappearance of Dolby Vision, 3D movies have also been removed from Disney+ in several European regions. These 3D offerings typically relied on the availability of Dolby Vision features.
| Feature | Status in Europe |
|---|---|
| Dolby Vision | Unavailable |
| HDR10+ | Unavailable |
| 3D Content | Unavailable |
Future Outlook
The timeline for the return of Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 3D content to Disney+ remains uncertain. Patent disputes like this can often extend over lengthy periods. InterDigital, the plaintiff in this case, holds thousands of patents in video and radio technology and has previously pursued legal action against major companies such as Amazon and Microsoft.
The situation will continue to evolve as Disney works toward resolving these technical issues. For now, users await updates on when they can regain access to their preferred streaming features.
