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A few months ago it seemed the problem had been solved, but the situation has returned. Disney+ users in many European countries have noticed a lack of support for Dolby Vision when watching films and TV series. It turns out the changes are the result of another stage in a patent dispute over technologies used in video encoding. What's more, the consequences are far greater than before. In addition to Dolby Vision, content available in 3D has also disappeared from the platform.
Dolby Vision has disappeared from Disney+ in 11 European Union countries
Problems with Dolby Vision on Disney+ are not entirely new. Earlier this year users in Europe noticed that the popular HDR format had stopped working in the app. Back then the issue was mainly linked to Germany, and after a few weeks Disney restored the feature in most EU countries. Now the matter has returned with renewed force. InterDigital has reported winning a patent proceeding before the Unified Patent Court of the European Union. According to the ruling, Disney infringes a patent covering certain video encoding technologies related to the HEVC format. As a result the court granted an injunction covering as many as eleven EU member states. That is why users have again lost access to Dolby Vision on the platform. Disney can still appeal the decision, but the whole process could take many months. Until then the platform is forced to limit the availability of some features. Importantly, the problem does not affect all regions of the world. In the United States and many other countries Dolby Vision still works without restrictions. European subscribers are therefore in a much worse position than users in other parts of the globe.
3D films have also disappeared, but 4K and HDR10 remain available
The consequences of the court ruling are not limited to Dolby Vision. It turns out that films and TV series available in 3D have also disappeared from Disney+. This is because the two formats are technically linked on the platform. For owners of devices that support 3D content this means the loss of one of the premium features. Fortunately, the basic video formats remain available. Users can still view content in 4K and with HDR10. Picture quality will therefore still be very high, although not as advanced as with Dolby Vision. Disney has already confirmed the changes are a direct result of the legal proceedings and has acknowledged customers' frustration. The company says it is looking into possible solutions that could restore the service's full functionality. It's worth noting that the same problem has affected other tech firms. However, Amazon struck a deal with InterDigital, allowing Prime Video to continue offering Dolby Vision to its users. It is not yet known whether Disney will take a similar step. One thing is certain, European Disney+ subscribers must prepare for a longer wait for the lost features to return.
Disney+ has again disabled Dolby Vision in parts of the European Union after losing a patent dispute. In addition to the HDR format, 3D films have also been removed from the platform. For now, users are left with 4K and HDR10 content, and the future of Dolby Vision on the service's European version remains uncertain.
source: flatpanelshd
