Expanding Access to Justice through ODR, and the “Digital Divide”: Is ODR the Cause of, or the Solution to the Inequality of Arms? - BCDR International Arbitration Review View Expanding Access to Justice through ODR, and the “Digital Divide”: Is ODR the Cause of, or the Solution to the Inequality of Arms? by - BCDR International Arbitration Review Expanding Access to Justice through ODR, and the “Digital Divide”: Is ODR the Cause of, or the Solution to the Inequality of Arms? 10 1

Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), an ever-evolving concept that commentators struggle to define, can be identified by its use of an online platform through which disputes are resolved. This article provides an overview of the key steps involved in ODR and discusses ODR’s capacity to provide a quicker and cheaper alternative to traditional methods of dispute resolution. While ODR may offer a simple and cheaper choice that can facilitate the resolution of less complex claims, it offers less flexibility than other types of dispute resolution offer. The article recognises that while ODR may enable access to justice by being less expensive than traditional arbitration, it cannot facilitate access to justice unless parties have equal access to the online platform. Until the “Digital Divide” is resolved, ODR is not a perfect solution to the inequality of arms.

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