ODR And ADR: How Will The New EU Rules On Dispute Resolution Affect e-Commerce?

EU member states are being required to implement new rules on procedures for out-of-court resolution of disputes between e-commerce traders and consumers.

In 2013, the EU enacted two laws intended to make dispute resolution easier for EU-based consumers: Directive 2013/11 on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes ("ADR Directive") and Regulation 524/2013 on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes ("ODR Regulation"). July 2015 marked the deadline for the implementation of the ADR Directive and certain of the obligations under the ODR Regulation by EU member states.

International commerce and the free movement of goods within the EU present consumers with numerous advantages (e.g., cheaper goods, wider range of products) and disadvantages (e.g., traders being in different jurisdictions and not easily held accountable). The ever-increasing online marketplace also brings new and complex challenges for consumers, including how to file and resolve