I have to get this straight since this is the first time I saw it.

Google owns Gmodules? From their directory of gadgets they now link to gmodules and have an update on layout. Adding color, size, title, and a live preview.

How long has this been going on?

>>Google owns Gmodules?
YES

Google owns Gmodules.com since at least when they went live with the Google Personalized Homepage. Gmodules.com hosts the actual module code for API-developers, for one reason (I guess) to prevent XSS (cross-site scripting). All this is not to be confused with GoogleModules.com, which is a Google modules (aka gadgets) directory owned by Alex Kiskes and me :)