programs
Center Projects
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Government ODR Initiative : The Center is collaborating with the National Mediation Board (NMB) on a National Science Foundation (NSF) project to integrate ODR tools and techniques into the services NMB provides to its clients, constituents, and partners. The Center is teamed with the Umass-Amherst Computer Science Department and the School of Managment to integrate cutting edge process modeling techniques to this task. The goal is to engage in a precedent setting, research focused experiment oriented around NMB's work to explore the applicability of ODR techniques in the federal government. |
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UN ODR Forums: The Center coordinates the annual UN International ODR Forum. The Sixth International Forum is being held December 3-4, 2007 in Hong Kong under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center. The Seventh International ODR Forum will take place in Victoria, Canada June 18-19, 2008. Previous forums took place in Liverpool (April 2007), Cairo (March 2006), Melbourne (June 2004) and Geneva (2002 and 2003).
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Virtual World Initiative: The Center's original interest in ODR grew out of disputes resulting from purely online activities. As time passed, it became clear that effective online tools could be applied to offline disputes as well. The Center is exploring ODR in a new online environment, that of "virtual worlds." These are environments in which one can build an identity and engage in many activities which one engages in offline. More interestingly, users can create things such as houses, designs, and other artifacts and do so without being bound by the laws of physics. In one such world, SecondLife, the creators own the intellectual property rights in what is created and a market is developing in which virtual objects are exchanged for real currency. This is a fascinating environment but one in which disputes occur and ODR will find a home. |
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EHealth Initiative: The Center has entered into an exploratory relationshiop with the Massachusetts Health Data Consortium to examine and analyze the growing use of electronic medical records and the expanding need to resolve disputes related to such. Electronic medical records fall into two categories, those in which an individual maintains a database of information about prescriptions, treatments, medical history, etc. The other kind of medical record in electronic form is maintained by a provider, often a hospital, and contains information about treatments received from doctors affiliated with that hospital. Disputes are more likely to arise from the latter than from the former, particularly as patients discover information that previously was contained in paper files in medical offices. |
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Access to Justice Initiative: The Center is beginning a project to bring ODR to small claims courts. In Massachusetts, such courts have been under attack for being inefficient and for not serving the needs of individuals in need of dispute resolution. Ethan Katsh and Jeff Aresty wrote an op- ed piece in the Boston Globe in response to a report prepared by the Massachusetts Judiciary. The Center is partnering with Quabbin Mediation in implementing a pilot ODR process for the Small Claims Court. |
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InternetBar Organization Collaboration: The Center has undertaken several projects in collaboration with the InternetBar Organization . These include: Cyberweek 2006 and 2007, the Peacetones project, and the Microcommerce Justice effort in Africa. |
ODR Contests and Competitions : The Center sponsors and implements online dispute resolution contests and competitions. ICODR is an international competition for online dispute resolution between law school students from all over the globe. ICODR ran from 2002 - 2006. Additionally, during Cyberweek 2007 the Center partnered with SmartSettle.com to provide an online eNegotiation contest for Cyberweek participants. As of November 2007 the Center is in discussions with platform providers and others regarding a new round of ICODR competitions.
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ODR Training: The Center is developing prototype ODR training modules as well as fostering discussion and debate about the potential for ADR training being facilitated and delivered, at least partially, through online or information technology methods. |
NanoTechnology Societal Implications NSF Project:
NCTDR continues its collaboration w/ the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing and the Center for Public Policy in the Societal Dimensions of NanoTechnology NSF project.
The first societal dimensions of nanotechnology workshop was held on Thursday, May 17, 2007. Presentations and hand outs can be viewed HERE . |
