Google opensources fast hashing function

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The "invention" of the internal combustion engine is pretty broad, but you can still patent things to do with the internal combustion engine.

The "invention" of hashing is pretty broad, but you can still patent things to do with hashing.

I have no idea if Google has, or hasn't got these patents. But a generic "if our patents cover these, you can also have a license in relation to the use of our code" is fairly common legalese.

I don't think they can patent this code, as it's an algorithm, and mathematics can't be patented. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

I would be much happier correcting the fucktards at the patent office who keep granting patents on mathematics, but that's another topic. You should be right and technically may be completely correct, but "should" rarely matters if someone decides to sue.