Disney+ brings back HDR
On Disney+, premium subscribers can now watch HDR content again. Disney explains the temporary removal with legal proceedings.
(Image: Shutterstock.com/Ivan Marc)
HDR10 is back on Disney+: Users of the premium subscription can now watch content again in HDR standard format after Disney had temporarily removed HDR support completely. HDR content is now playing with expanded contrast range on two editorial devices from heise online.
In recent weeks, Disney first removed the HDR formats Dolby Vision and HDR10+ from Disney+, until finally the HDR10 standard format also followed. Users could not watch movies and series in HDR in the meantime – although HDR support is one of the most important selling points of the more expensive premium subscription.
In a statement to heise online, Disney explains the removal of HDR formats with a “legal proceeding before a German patent court.” They were forced to make changes to the availability of some premium video formats. “We deeply regret that this was necessary and share the frustration of our customers. We have worked on solutions as quickly as possible,” Disney writes.
Patent dispute with InterDigital
This seems to confirm Disney's statement that a patent dispute with the US company InterDigital is responsible for the HDR issues. The Regional Court of Munich ruled last November that Disney+ infringes on InterDigital's rights when streaming videos with dynamic HDR images. The court issued a preliminary injunction against the streaming service, according to a statement from InterDigital.
Videos by heise
The sudden absence of advanced HDR formats and 3D videos on Disney+ was first noticed by users at the beginning of the year. Disney owed its users a long explanation for this. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision remain deactivated on Disney+ for now. Disney has not announced whether and when they will return.
(dahe)
