This isn't validation - but it may be corruption.

This isn't validation - but it may be corruption.

You've got confused. The patent allows you to stop a competitor from exploiting your development, and thus provides protection from a bigger competitor muscling you out of the market.

I'm aware of the theory, but what's to stop the bigger competitor from threatening you with their patent portfolio, anyway? And PageRank looks like a prime example of something which shouldn't be patentable, although it's interesting to note the patent's origins, suggesting some reasons as to why the subject matter isn't a trade secret, like a lot of other Google technology.