Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): What is it, and is it the Way Forward?

Abstract

This article provides a concise explanation of the notion of "dispute resolution" in cyberspace. It reviews some of the recent studies on the use of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), especially the use of e-negotiation, e-mediation and e-arbitration, considers the issues concerning the intricacies of settling and resolving disputes in cyberspace and concludes that the idea of banishing offline dispute settlement and dispute resolution methods — in the near future — is extremely unlikely ever to come true.

Keywords: Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, Online Dispute Resolution, ODR