Heard from where, exactly?
ffmpeg is an open project, accepts donations, and is heavily used by big tech.
This is an example of them applying for the Sovereign Tech Fund, and what they planned to do with the relatively modest budget.
To my knowledge, it’s not linked to the Motion Pictures Experts Group. Or MPEG LA.
And ffmpeg does warn that using ffmepg for commercial products may put you in the firing line of MPEG LA.