Online Dispute Resolution in 2010: a Cyberspace Odyssey?

This paper presents some results of a research on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and mediation online that was undertaken for the White Book on Mediation in Catalonia. The research shows the state of the art of ODR today. It presents the technologies, processes and products currently existing in the global market. A survey of 34 ODR providers is presented with information on service models, communication types, functionalities, ADR services and other off-ADR services such as seals of quality or formation activities. The survey shows that in most ODR services, IT is not fully employed and web 2.0/web 3.0 tools are barely used at all. Consequently, ODR systems do not yet benefit from the opportunities these technologies could provide. Our survey also shows that there are less active ODR services providers today than only a few years ago.