But in the case with Google, it was the idea that made them famous (i.e. the PageRank algorithm). The implementation is trivial -- it was taught in the Linear Algebra classes I TA'd for.
Or you know, the fact that it's the most popular and widely visited website in the world.
I don't work at Google in case you're wondering. But you say you have no financial interest in DDG which makes me wonder if there are interests you do have in them that you aren't disclosing.