Disney+ faces legal pressure in France over reduced Premium features

The French consumer association Que Choisir has issued a formal notice to Disney+ regarding the degradation of its Premium subscription service. Subscribers paying 15.99 euros per month are reportedly receiving fewer technical benefits than originally promised, despite the higher price point compared to the Standard tier.

Key technical features, including Dolby Vision, HDR, and 4K Ultra HD, have been removed or significantly altered. While a form of 4K has been reintroduced using the VP9 codec, reports indicate the quality varies significantly depending on user hardware and is less performant than previous standards.

The reduction in service quality stems from an ongoing patent dispute between Disney and InterDigital. Rather than paying royalties for the technologies used to enhance image and sound, Disney has opted to remove these features following legal rulings. Que Choisir is demanding that Disney+ either restore the promised functionalities or significantly reduce the Premium subscription price to reflect the current level of service.