Online Dispute Resolution: Present Realities, Pressing Problems and Future Prospects

Abstract

This article provides an overview of recent developments in the use of technology in dispute resolution processes, especially when dispute resolution is provided online. It discusses the nature of new technologies, the advantages and disadvantages involved with the use of such technology and the policy and regulatory issues arising from such processes. The article also describes current uses of information communication technologies to provide dispute resolution services from negotiation to online courts. A concluding section suggests that, while online dispute resolution is both a tool and a process, its development is still in its infancy. Various government and industry bodies have been struggling to develop a policy and practice framework governing ODR . However, it is clear that more research is required, especially from an interdisciplinary perspective, before we can be confident that such practices and guidelines take advantage of the new technologies while avoiding their disadvantages.