The US Patent and Trademark Office will be required to set up satellite offices to conduct outreach to women, minorities, and other groups underrepresented in the patent system, under a measure included in the omnibus spending deal on its way to President Joe Biden.

• The House passed the $1.7 trillion omnibus package on Friday with a 225-201 vote, with one Democrat voting present. It had cleared the Senate the day before.
• That bipartisan package included provisions from the Unleashing American Innovators Act, which was introduced in the house by Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.).
• Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) spearheaded the bill in the Senate, which passed it earlier this month.
• The measure aims to promote diversity in innovation and increase outreach to potential inventors and patent owners, as well as lower patent application fees for small businesses and individuals.
• “We are a stronger and more prosperous nation when everyone – regardless of their race, gender, or zip code – can participate in our thriving innovation economy,” Ross said in a statement.