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CPR, Online Resolution Partner to Develop Online ADR Devices
By: Justin Kelly, ADRWorld.com
April 11, 2001 - The CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution and Online Resolution, Inc. are forming a strategic partnership to develop and offer online alternative dispute resolution methods for resolving business-to-business disputes.
According to a joint announcement released by the two organizations last week, CPR and Online Resolution together will develop advanced online dispute resolution tools and make them available to CPR's worldwide network of lawyers, firms and ADR practitioners.
Officials with the two groups said details of the partnership are still being hammered out, but they suggested that it will build on CPR's business-to-business ADR initiative, which offered tools and protocols for resolving business disputes arising out of e-commerce transactions. They also said they may address hybrid online/offline dispute resolution systems for Internet domain name disputes and privacy issues.
Colin Rule, president of Online Resolution, said CPR has "been getting a lot of interest from [its] member corporations about online ADR" and the strategic partnership will allow CPR and Online Resolution to "go after the business-to-business cases that CPR has developed protocols and rules for."
According to Rule, CPR has "a lot of connections with business" and Online Resolution has extensive business connections in the international community. These relationships will allow both organizations to develop wider "international relationships" in Latin America, Asia and Europe to handle business-to-business disputes with online ADR devices under development through the strategic partnership.
CPR's Russ Bleemer said the specifics of the partnership are "wide open," but he suggested that one area the partnership could address is "some adaptation with CPR and its work with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers" Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).
ICANN manages the Internet's global addressing system, and the UDRP addresses "cybersquatting" cases where parties challenge the rightful ownership of domain names, providing for arbitration of claims. CPR is one of four organizations approved by ICANN to administer arbitration under the UDRP, along with the National Arbitration Forum, CPR, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and Montreal-based eResolution.
According to Bleemer, the new partnership will allow CPR and Online Resolution to develop methods for resolving ICANN disputes using online ADR entirely or some hybrid of online and traditional processes.
Online Resolution's Rule said the partnership also may address privacy disputes involving the unauthorized release or use of customer information transmitted over the Internet. Individuals or organizations may be able to seek redress online through a system developed by CPR and Online Resolution, he said.
Online Resolution (www.onlineresolution.com) currently offers online ADR processes including arbitration, mediation, and designs customized online ADR platforms. CPR (www.cpradr.org) was formed in 1979 to promote ADR through partnerships with large corporations and law firms, and has developed rules and procedures for resolving business-to-business and public disputes.
Partnership Recognizes Validity of Online ADR
Steve Abernethy, president and chief executive officer of online ADR provider SquareTrade, which resolves disputes for online auction giant eBay, said it is "great thing for CPR, a leading ADR organization is recognizing that the Internet is a channel to resolve disputes." The partnership ties into similar announcements JAMS, the American Arbitration Association and the Better Business Bureau, and is a realization that if SquareTrade "can go from handling no cases to 10,000 a month" that this is growth area for resolving disputes.
According to Abernethy, "CPR is seen as an educator," and "anything it does to add to the credibility" of online ADR is "good for consumers and business" and the growth of online ADR. "Whatever CPR does will help practitioners realize they should try this new model," he added. Abernethy said the "next step is get traditional business to try online ADR or other hybrid" methods.
Tom Stipanowich, president of CPR, said in a statement that, "[o]nline dispute resolution is the new frontier" and "[c]orporations and consumer groups are starting to see a real need for redress in conflicts arising over the Internet, and they are calling for ethical and economic online dispute resolution services."
About SquareTrade
SquareTrade is the leading innovator in online trust development, reputation enhancement and dispute resolution for e-commerce transactions. SquareTrade's critical e-commerce infrastructure gives buyers and sellers--both consumers and businesses--the confidence they need to conduct transactions online. SquareTrade addresses the all-important issue of building trust in e-business relationships, which is one of the essential enabling factors required before there will be substantial transaction volume in online marketplaces. The digitally watermarked SquareTrade Seal establishes an online seller's customer service track record, helps build buyer confidence and serves as the first line of defense against fraud. The Seal is backed by SquareTrade's patent-pending Internet-based dispute resolution service and international network of 250 mediators and arbitrators. Founded in 1999 and today with over 60 full-time employees, SquareTrade is based in San Francisco, Calif. For more information, employment opportunities or to contact SquareTrade representatives, visit the Web site at www.squaretrade.com. |
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