Not Invented Here, the Malady

When you can't be the first at something, because somebody in some funny other country already invented it.

Not Invented Here, the Symptomes

You feel the urge of ignoring the whole issue, potentially disregarding really good stuff.

Not Invented Here, the Cure

If you can't be the first, just make sure you are building the biggest in the nation and the entire world.

That will quickly help you feel better and you can be assured, that those people who came up with it in the first place will recognize your position of leadership.

Case Studies

IRC had a hard time finding recognition outside of Finland in 1989.

Jarkko 'WiZ' Oikarinen remembers:

IRC was well spread in Finland. I contacted some friends of mine through Bitnet Relay and asked if they would try this program. Internet connections did not yet work from Finland to other countries, so they could not connect to the Finnish network (which I suppose was the reason for them not being very enthusiastic about irc). Internet connections to states started working (I don't anymore remember when). I answered to some news articles where people asked for multiuser chat programs. I didn't get replies.