A patent troll is a person or company who enforces patent rights against accused infringers in an attempt to collect licensing fees, but does not manufacture products or supply services based upon the patents in question... Wikipedia
In the 2000s, OV used to tout how many video analytic channels sold worldwide (700,000, 800,000, etc.) but they have long since stopped that. We have not heard of anyone using or buying OV's software in recent years... ObjectVideo Revenue Breakdown
The implication is clear, ObjectVideo once a thriving video analytic software provider had morphed into being a defacto troll. And quite an aggressive and successful one at that.
Yet news of Avigilon's slaying of the troll was primarily viewed as a negative development.
And while understandable that Avigilon's competitors need to evaluate this development as it may pertain to them, there is good reason to be sanguine, at least for the industry at large.
Because the 800 pound troll is gone. Who cares you say, "6 of one, half-dozen of another".
But it does matter for this simple reason, unlike ObjectVideo, Avigilon is vulnerable to counter-claims of infringement, seeking damages from lost sales. This is a common move used between rival non-troll patent holders, but this is only an empty threat against OV.
Since ObjectVideo apparently had little in the way of sales, they had little to worry about in terms of damages and injunctions. With Avigilon, on the other hand it would be a different situation.
Consider also the fact that before the acquisition, if ObjectVideo and VideoIQ had concievably overlapping patents, nothing would preclude both patent entities from suing for essentially the violations.
Lastly, competitors should keep in mind that 80 million dollars is not a trivial sum, and Avigilon now has 80 million less for R&D and business development, and the industry has one less troll...