Context:
- Disney and InterDigital have been embroiled in global litigation over several video codec standard-essential patents (SEPs) since February 2025 (February 2025, ip fray article). Disney was forced to alienate some of its German customers by switching off Dolby Vision and other premium features (January 23, 2026 ip fray article) after the Munich I Regional Court issued an injunction against it last year (November 21, 2025 ip fray article). And, following a second injunction, this time issued by the UPC’s Düsseldorf Local Division (LD) last month (July 23, 2026 ip fray article), Disney deactivated its 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) video quality for all of its German customers (July 28, 2026 ip fray article). This latest deactivation was even more significant given the 11-country scope of the UPC’s injunction, and that it meant even premium subscribers (who pay €15.99 a month) could only watch films and series in a maximum resolution of 1080p and SDR. Last month, InterDigital also targeted Disney’s use of VP9 (August 24, 2026 ip fray article). Then, InterDigital won its sixth straight injunction against Disney, when the UPC’s Dusseldorf LD ruled that Disney+’s casting function infringes a narrowed, amended version of EP2080349 (September 2, 2026 ip fray article). And, in the dispute’s latest development, InterDigital filed a €101.7M ($118M) damages lawsuit against Disney (September 14, 2026 ip fray article).
- Last month, Disney+ switched 4K back on again in Germany, using “an alternative technology solution” that includes VP9 on devices (such as the Fire TV Cubes), according to local German media outlets (August 5, 2026 ip fray article). But in France, Disney+ has not switched its 4K and HDR streaming back on again, and has reportedly not offered compensation.
What’s new: French consumer rights protection organisation, Que Choisir, has sent Disney a formal notice, criticizing its behaviour and demanding that it reduce its price, provide compensation, and stop misleading customers (September 23, 2026 Que Choisir article).
Direct impact and wider ramifications: This response by a major European consumer group could be followed by others. InterDigital has already commented on the development, noting that it is “unfortunate and unfair” that consumers continue to pay for features of Disney’s streaming service that they no longer receive. It added:
“We continue to wish to resolve Disney’s infringing use of our patented technology by signing a licence, so Disney can provide the highest quality picture and best service possible to all of their customers.”
Que Choisir states that “everything that allowed Premium subscribers to enjoy high-quality images was eliminated, without any reduction in the subscription price”.
Specifically, Que Choisir notes that while the specifications are still displayed on the Disney+ website with phrases such as “up to 4K Ultra HD”, existing subscribers have only been sent incomplete emails – and have not been compensated for the technology they have paid for. Some, it emphasizes, have received compensation after filing complaints, but no compensation policy has been implemented since.