FTC, Commerce to Host Online Dispute Resolution Workshop

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce will host a workshop to explore the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for consumer transactions Online, June 6 and 7 in the Department of Commerce's main auditorium at 1401 Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. The workshop will focus on how alternative dispute resolution programs may contribute to fostering consumer confidence without unnecessarily burdening business, and the use of alternative dispute resolution as one means of providing transparent effective, quick and inexpensive redress for consumers engaging in online transactions. The workshop agenda follows:

Tuesday, June 6, 2000

 

8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast

  9:00 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
Welcome Remarks  

9:20 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Presentations: Defining Alternative Dispute Resolution and its Applicability to the Online World

10:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Offline Experiences with Consumer ADR: What Lessons are there for the Online World?  

10:35 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Presentations by Online ADR Providers

 
12:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m.
Lunch  

1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Panel discussion on chargebacks as a model of alternative dispute resolution  

2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Panel Discussion: What are the reasons for industry, consumers and governments to participate or not participate in developing ADR for the global Online marketplace?

 
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion: What issues need to be addressed in developing ADR mechanisms for the Online marketplace?

Wednesday, June 7, 2000

8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks for Day Two

 
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Panel Discussion: What issues need to be addressed in conducting ADR in the Online marketplace?  

10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Break  

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: What is the intersection between ADR and judicial dispute resolution?  

12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Lunch  

1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Panel Discussion: What are the proper roles for all stakeholders, including governments, industry and consumer representatives, in developing and implementing ADR mechanisms?

 
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Breakout sessions  

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Concluding Panel