Commission funded project to deliver groundbreaking e-arbitration software
A consortium of partners from France, the UK, Italy and Spain will shortly deliver a new e-arbitration software package, the result of a project funded under the IST section of the Fifth Framework Programme. The e-arbitration-t (electronic arbitration tribunal) platform aims to provide arbitration and mediation centres with intelligent online support for dispute resolution according to the relevant legal framework. The finished product is due to be unveiled in January 2003. One of the project partners is Brunel University, and as Dr Tony Elliman from its Department of Information Systems and Computing explains: 'The software is designed specifically to be cost effective for centres with low case loads and where parties are SMEs [small to medium-sized enterprises]. [It will provide] centres with a set of integrated applications to give control over procedures and operational processes, with complete case management tools.' Prior to the e-arbitration-t software, arbitration packages only recorded the legal persona of a corporate party and their appointed legal representative. With the new system, any number of individuals can be registered as members or representatives of the party, which facilitates security procedures and gives a more accurate trail of document submissions. The team are now concentrating on developing the technology transfer strategy and exploitation plans to ensure that the package is delivered to arbitration centres across Europe and beyond.