About ICODR

The International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR) is a nonprofit consortium, incorporated in the United States, that drives the development, convergence, and adoption of open standards for the global effort to resolve disputes and conflicts using information and communications technology.

ICODR promotes worldwide standards for all forms of technology-assisted dispute resolution, including diagnosis, negotiation, mediation, arbitration and courts. ICODR’s open standards offer the potential to lower cost, stimulate innovation, protect consumers and citizens, and protect the right of free access to justice.

ICODR was created in response to the recent, rapid and widespread adoption of technology-supported systems for dispute resolution, which are taking place around the world in both the private and public sectors. These systems are currently being used to resolve many millions of disputes. Further growth of the use of online dispute resolution (ODR) requires the development of and adherence to standards to provide support and build trust in all of these ventures.

ICODR was developed by the National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution (NCTDR) and its group of international Fellows. NCTDR was founded in 1998 and, since then,  has cultivated the theory and practice of online dispute resolution throughout the world.  Among its other activities, it hosts the International Journal of Online Dispute Resolution and two annual conferences, the International ODR Forum and ODR Cyberweek.

ICODR members broadly represent the spectrum of public and private sector organizations that resolve disputes or conflicts, including online dispute resolution service providers, consumer protection agencies, and government regulators.
ICODR’s inaugural board of directors and founding members represent over 600 years of leadership and innovation in the incorporation of technology into effective accessible dispute resolution.

ICODR was created during the 2017 ODR Forum meeting in Paris, France by the Administration and Fellows of NCTDR, ICODR works in a complementary fashion to NCTDR. While NCTDR, an academic center associated with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will continue to lead in the development of the theory and practice that undergird ODR (through such activities as hosting the annual ODR Forum, the ODR Cyberweek online conference, the International Journal of ODR, the website odr.info and various research activities), ICODR has a more formal governance structure,  Some of ICODR’s activities include:

• Promotion of access, use, and public understanding/education of ODR
• Engaging diverse communities in the development of ODR
• Promulgation of standards and best practices for ODR programs
• Self-certification of ODR programs against ICODR standards
• Memberships for ODR practitioners, providers, academic programs, and businesses
• Training and continuing education for ODR practitioners
• Mentoring and career services for ODR professionals

Review the current list of board members here.

Top Row: Brian Hutchison, Colin Rule, Alberto Elisavetsky, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Pablo Cortes, Andy Lee, Chittu Nagarajan, Janet Martinez, Orna Rabinovich-Einy, Daniel Rainey; Bottom Row: David Larson, Zbynek Loebl, Ethan Katsh, Leah Wing, Ian MacDuff, Mirèze Philippe, Graham Ross, Jeff Aresty, Jin Ho Verdonschot, Aura Esther Vilalta; Not Pictured: Benjamin Davis, Vikki Rogers, Irene Sigismondi