Introduction:

What is Alternative Dispute Resolution in Cyberspace? The question has two answers: Alternative Dispute Resolution in Cyberspace refers to alternative means of resolving Disputes arising out of Cyberspace. However, it also refers to the resolution of normal Disputes by Alternative Dispute Resolution in Cyberspace.

On our website, we focus on the area where both the advantages, the disadvantages and the special features of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Cyberspace are most visible: The Resolution of Disputes arising out of Cyberspace by means of Cyberspace. Therefore, even though there are a number of offline Arbitration institutions that handle Cyberspace Disputes, we will focus on those organizations that make significant use of the new possibilities of Cyberspace or focus on the difficulties created by Cyberspace disputes.

The Problems shown below therefore apply especially to disputes arising out of Cyberspace and to the Solutions Cyberspace offers.

Some Definitions:

• Cyberspace: This seems like an easy one: The Internet. However, it is important to remember that a reference to Cyberspace includes all sorts of different technologies on the internet, including E-mail, chatrooms etc.
• ADR = Alternative Dispute Resolution. This refers to all means of dispute resolution that do not use the ordinary court system of a country.
• ODR = Online Dispute Resolution. This is basically a subcategory of ADR and refers to all ADR that is conducted only or mostly in Cyberspace.

Disclaimer:

This page was created as a research project for the Cyberspace Law couse at the University of North Carolina at Chapel in the Fall Semester of 2010. The content is for informational use only. The Information is valid as of December 2010, but we do not guarantee the accuracy of any information.

Authors and Contact:

Stephen Sossna	Austin Ellis
sossna@email.unc.edu	ellisat@email.unc.edu