Documentary Update – China & Can ODR Change the World?

Production continues on our documentary, “Can ODR Change the World?” While release was originally planned for this winter, growing  interest in the project made it necessary to stretch the timeframe in order to accommodate the important voices around the world who have influenced the development of the modern online dispute resolution “industry.” No longer is ODR relegated to discussions about early mass dispute resolution at eBay or PayPal. It’s now about meeting the needs of millions around the world who seek alternative ways to access justice.

Since the pandemic, resolving conflicts online has been quickly adopted as the go-to method for peacemaking in an increasingly interconnected world.  And nowhere has this use of technology to conflict resolution been more observable, than in China. 

I recently  interviewed Professor Xuhui (Michael) Fang for his segment of the doc. Professor Fang, a lawyer and an NCTDR Fellow, is a key voice on understanding the architecture of China’s digital justice landscape.

In our sit down, Professor Fang shared his contributions at the United Nations in helping draft the 2016 UNCITRAL Technical Notes on ODR, where he successfully advocated for the inclusion of security in the global framework. We also explored China’s Hangzhou Internet Courts, which utilize AI and blockchain to resolve millions of e-commerce disputes asynchronously. Segments from our  wide-ranging discussion will feature in the documentary, but the standalone recording will be available soon.

We’re excited to bring this documentary to life and are thankful to the contributors showcasing their little piece of the puzzle in this decades-long global story. Learn more at LMIPodcast.com/film.