Disney+ restores 4K streaming in Europe after court‑ordered shutdown

Disney+ 4K streaming EU patent ruling HDR Premium plan

A July 23 decision by the Unified Patent Court granted InterDigital an injunction against The Walt Disney Company in eleven EU member states – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Sweden. The ruling required Disney+ to cease using certain HEVC‑related patents, forcing the platform to remove 4K UHD and HDR from its Premium plan in those countries. Premium subscribers now receive only 1080p SDR video, while the monthly price of €15.99 remains unchanged.

Disney+ says it has adopted an alternative streaming technology that allows 4K UHD to be reinstated in the affected markets, but HDR is still unavailable. The company is working to restore HDR as quickly as possible. Affected Premium users can request a partial refund for the current billing period or cancel their subscription within 30 days for a full refund. Device support for the restored 4K is limited; Apple TV devices are currently excluded, while Android‑TV, Amazon Fire TV, selected Sony, Philips and LG models, Sky Glass and Sky Stream are supported.

The dispute stems from InterDigital’s claim that Disney used its patented video‑compression technology without a fair, reasonable and non‑discriminatory (FRAND) licence. Disney has called the situation temporary and is appealing the decision, but no timetable for full HDR restoration has been announced.

Entities

Disney+ · European Union · InterDigital · Italy · The Walt Disney Company · Unified Patent Court

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Disney+ Premium price remains €15.99 per month despite the loss of 4K and HDR. www.opinion-internationale.com · www.tecnologici.net
[● 3 SOURCES] InterDigital holds patents on HEVC video compression technology used by Disney+ and sued for licensing under FRAND terms. www.opinion-internationale.com · www.tecnologici.net · www.techradar.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Affected Premium subscribers can request a partial refund for the current billing period or cancel within 30 days for a full refund. www.ifun.de · stadt-bremerhaven.de · movieplayer.it
[● 6 SOURCES] The injunction affected Disney+ Premium subscribers in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Sweden. www.opinion-internationale.com · www.tecnologici.net · www.techradar.com · www.ifun.de · movieplayer.it · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Disney+ has adopted an alternative streaming technology to restore 4K UHD, but HDR remains unavailable. www.series-80.net · www.techradar.com · www.ifun.de · stadt-bremerhaven.de
[● 4 SOURCES] In the affected countries, Premium subscribers now receive only 1080p SDR video. www.opinion-internationale.com · www.tecnologici.net · www.techradar.com · movieplayer.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Apple TV devices are not supported for the restored 4K UHD in Germany. www.ifun.de
[● 6 SOURCES] On 23 July, the Unified Patent Court granted InterDigital an injunction against Disney+, requiring the removal of 4K UHD and HDR in eleven EU countries. www.opinion-internationale.com · www.tecnologici.net · www.techradar.com · www.ifun.de · movieplayer.it · +1 more