Can anyone think of any other areas where the people who first invented something have since been overtaken by others? Cars maybe? Cheese making? Wine? Electronics?
To provide a balanced argument Jon,
In 1596, John Harrington, English, first invented the toilet seat.
Subsequently a Scotsman put a hole in it.
In 1885, Karl Benz, German, developed the car as powered by an internal combustion engine. It was affordable,practical, comfortable,reliable, economical and had good dealer and customer service.
130 years later, his invention was subsequently improved upon by an English company, McLaren......oh hang on.