The Ombuds Blog: American Arbitration Association Acquires Ombuds.org in Bid to Expand Online Services

May 31, 2024

American Arbitration Association Acquires Ombuds.org in Bid to Expand Online Services

This week, AAA, the nonprofit organization that claims to be the world's largest provider of arbitration, mediation and other ADR services, acquired Resourceful Internet Solutions Inc. RIS builds online dispute resolution systems and owns Mediate.com, Arbitrate.com, and Ombuds.org. RIS's CEO Colin Rule explained, “Demand for ODR [online dispute resolution] is growing rapidly worldwide, and working with the AAA will keep us on the cutting edge.”

The acquisition is the latest move by AAA to expand into new forms of dispute resolution, including Ombuds services. It also reflects the reality that ODR, once a small and technical subset of ADR, is now a dominant format for dispute resolution. “ODR is really just a use of technology to help people solve problems,” Rule said. “And every customer center, every call center, is doing that, and every courthouse is doing that. Whether or not they term it ODR, I think, is beside the point. ODR is the future of ADR.” (AAA Press Release; LawNext.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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May 31, 2024

American Arbitration Association Acquires Ombuds.org in Bid to Expand Online Services

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