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Can generalization of a prior art be patented?
Let's say a prior art X exists claiming for only system A, B, C. Now I have come across an idea of making the prior art idea applicable for A~Z with some additional steps. Kind of generic approach to cover all unclaimed systems. To make it specialized of course, I need to add some more steps along with prior art steps as a core.
Can my idea be patented in such scenario?
As you describe it, the method would be a narrowing of the existing method but, due to added mechanism, would have broader use than the previous method. It is not really a generalization of the old method.
There are similar cases where patents are awarded for someone finding a sweet spot in an already known method. Maybe at a certain temperature range a process becomes, unexpectedly, much more efficient and therefore has broader applicability. But it is still a narrowing of method.
Separate from the issue of prior art is the issue of freedom to operate. If the prior art is subject to an in-force patent, then you will have a patent that you can't practice without the permission of the prior art patent owner. They have patented doing steps A, B and C, You have patented doing steps A, B, C and D but to practice your patent one is still doing A, B and C.
To be patentable an invention needs to be useful, novel and non-obvious. It might be hard to convince a patent examiner of novelty and non-obviousness if you just tweak an existing device. Even if you do manage to get a patent on an invention that builds on prior art by adding steps, your patent would only be on the system including the added steps not on the prior art system. To my mind this isn't generalization but specialization. Regardless, if the added steps you are conceiving of are truly new and not something a person skilled in the field would consider obvious, you very well might be able to obtain a patent. Just don't expect it would be applicable to any existing prior art.
