A patent dispute between Disney and InterDigital is affecting how users access Disney+ in parts of Europe. Since the beginning of the year, European subscribers have noticed some premium features disappearing and returning intermittently. In Germany and the Netherlands, Google Cast — a feature that allows users to stream content from their phones or computers to televisions — has been disabled, and some users report similar issues with Apple’s AirPlay. In France, the situation is slightly different: while 4K streaming began returning this summer using an alternative technology called VP9, High Dynamic Range (HDR) is still missing on some devices. HDR and Dolby Vision, which enhance picture quality, have been impacted by the ongoing legal battle. The restrictions in Germany and the Netherlands stem from a court decision in early September by the Düsseldorf division of the Unified Patent Court. The court ruled that Disney had infringed on an InterDigital patent related to transmitting multimedia content across multiple devices. This ruling affects Disney+ apps on smartphones, tablets, and computers, but not apps installed directly on televisions or set-top boxes. While AirPlay issues have been reported, Disney has not officially confirmed that the feature has been disabled. France is already dealing with similar restrictions due to two earlier injunctions related to HEVC encoding, a standard used for compressing high-quality video. These rulings, issued in June and July 2026 by the Mannheim and Düsseldorf divisions of the Unified Patent Court, apply to 11 European countries, including France. As a result, Disney+ had to change how it delivers 4K content. Now, InterDigital is also challenging Disney’s use of VP9 as an alternative to restore Ultra HD on certain devices. InterDigital is seeking 101.7 million euros in damages and interest from Disney for the use of an HDR-related patent, covering the period from when Disney+ launched in Germany in March 2020 until a court decision in November 2025. This ongoing legal battle has significantly altered the viewing experience for Disney+ subscribers, affecting not only the quality of the content they can watch but also how they can stream it to their televisions in some countries.