Local movie fans will no longer receive iTunes or Google Play download codes when buying Marvel, Pixar and Dreamworks movies on disc, as The Walt Disney Company abandons its Digital Copy Plus service in Australia and New Zealand.

By now Australians are used to being treated as second class digital citizens, but it still hurts to know that Disney has abandoned its free Digital Copy Plus service locally while still offering it in the US. Apparently Disney believes that Australians have more than enough alternative ways to obtain a second copy to watch on our mobile devices, even though they involve paying for another copy of a movie we already own.

According to the Australian Digital Copy Plus website: "The Walt Disney Company Australia & New Zealand have made the decision to no longer provide free eCopy within their Blu-ray or 3D Blu-ray product. This is due to the growth in popularity and public awareness of the availability of our films through digital platforms."

It has quietly scrapped the Digital Copy Plus service, no longer including download codes with new movies such as Marvel's Doctor Strange which was released on disc in Australia last week. The change affects films from a range of studios including Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone, Marvel and Dreamworks.

Browsing through the movies at my local JB HiFi and talking to the staff, it appears that Disney has been gradually phasing out the codes for several months.

Digital Copy Plus launched in Australia in 2013 with the release of Iron Man 3 on DVD and Blu-ray. While codes are no longer included with new movies, Digital Copy Plus codes on older discs can still be redeemed via the Australian Digital Copy Plus website. Meanwhile most other studios continue to use the Ultraviolet digital download service.

While it's possible for Australians to copy their movie discs using software such as AnyDVD HD, only ripping music is permitted under Australian copyright law – something which hasn't changed as part of the recent review of Australia's copyright regulations.

What's more insulting to Australians is that The Walt Disney Company has refused to comment on the issue – with the Australian office handballing questions to the US head office which has failed to reply. Meanwhile US customers continue to enjoy access to Digital Copy Plus along with the new Disney Movies Anywhere movie locker service which is yet to come to Australia.

It's not the only way Australians are getting screwed when it comes to Hollywood blockbusters. For example, 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy is still not available for rent via Australian streaming services, only to purchase. It was on Netflix for a while.

Until recently Australians were still expected to pay the release-day price of $38 for Guardians of the Galaxy on DVD or $45 on Blu-ray, even though it was available for much less overseas. The cost of the Australian discs has only fallen in the last few weeks.

Considering that piracy is often viewed as an issue of pricing and availability, you'd think that the movie studios would be doing their best to make content available in a timely and affordable manner – but not in Australia, which is seen as a soft target when looking to fleece customers.

Did you rely on Disney's Digital Copy Plus service? Will you start paying for another copy of your movies just so you can watch them on mobile devices?