Online dispute resolution in 2010: a cyberspace odyssey?

This paper presents some results of a research on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and mediation online which was undertaken within 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. According to this, a table of 34 ODR providers is developed which covers information on service models, communication types, functionalities, ADR services and other off-ADR services such as seals of quality or formation activities. The outcome shows that IT is not fully employed within the current ODR systems and web 2.0/web 3.0 tools are not used at all. Consequently, ODR systems do not benefit from the opportunities these technologies could provide. According to our research, today there are less ODR services providers than only a few years ago and this seems a trend for the near future.