Is Google's Backlink System Patented?

Just curious is it "legal" for me to create a search engine w a algo that uses backlinks as the main deciding factor - or googles own this "method" (I'm NOT talking about doing what BING is doing - copying results straight from google) just using there "backlink" idea w my own little twists...

???

Yes or no?

In the past, I was a freelance new product designer for several brick and morter novelty companies, so I know a bit about patents. As far as I know, you can't patent a system. You can only be granted a patent for the following:

- Utility Patent (For devices. In the field of software, there have been some patents granted for things like the MP3 audio format and some other formats)

- Plant Patent (For newly created organic hybrid plants)

- Chemical Patent (for medicines and new chemical compounds)

- Design Patent (this is a very weak patent, but never-the-less, it is used for the aesthetic design of a particular product).

EDIT: I just did a bit of research for you, and I guess some systems can be patented. An example is Amazon's payment system. They went to court over it and won the right to patent it.

Hope that helps . . . .

Cheers! - "Wiz"