AV1 was created by a consortium of some of the biggest tech companies in the world, and "all technology was vetted in a rigorous patent review process before being integrated into the final spec."[0]

On the other side, you've got patent trolls who are upset that their shitty business model is coming to an end. They're just being loud as they're losing.

[0] https://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?Art...