Disney+ is losing Google Cast support in select countries, marking the latest fallout from an ongoing patent dispute involving the streaming service.
The issue stems from a legal battle between Disney and InterDigital, a fight that Disney has been losing in recent months. The dispute has already affected the app in other ways, previously stripping out support for 4K HDR playback in Dolby Vision and 3D content in certain regions. Those restrictions have come and gone over time, but the newest impact targets casting functionality directly.
Where Google Cast Is Being Disabled
Google Cast support is actively being turned off in some regions as a result of the dispute. An injunction has been issued against Disney+ in Germany and the Netherlands, and the app is currently barred from supporting Cast in those two markets. Disney can appeal the ruling, and an appeal is widely expected, but for now the casting restriction remains in place.
What Users Are Seeing
Affected subscribers are already encountering an error message when they attempt to cast content to a television. The translated notice reads: “Streaming via Chromecast is not available in your country of origin.”
The change means users in the impacted regions cannot send Disney+ video from their phones or other devices to a compatible TV using Google Cast. The rollout of the restriction follows the injunction tied to the InterDigital patent case.
Part of a Larger Cast Trend
Disney+ is not the only major service to see changes around Google Cast. Netflix removed Google Cast support amid declining use of the feature, while other platforms have moved in the opposite direction. Instagram recently added Google Cast support so users can watch Reels on their TVs, and Google Cast has been rolling out to Samsung TVs beyond just the newest models.
For now, the loss of Google Cast on Disney+ is limited to the countries covered by the injunction, and the outcome could shift depending on how Disney’s expected appeal plays out.
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Image: 9to5google.com
