Law of the handicap of a head start

The law of the handicap of a head start (original Dutch: Wet van de remmende voorsprong), also known as the first-mover disadvantage or dialectics of lead, is a theory in economic history and technological development that proposes that an initial head start in a particular domain may paradoxically become a handicap over time. The theory suggests that early adopters or pioneers may become entrenched in their initial infrastructure, technology, or methodologies, making them resistant to change and vulnerable to being overtaken by late adopters who can implement newer, more efficient systems without the burden of sunk costs or path dependence.

Source: Wikipedia — Law of the handicap of a head start (CC BY-SA 4.0)