Professor Amy Schmitz recently published a book that seeks to explain how online dispute resolution (ODR) can expand access to remedies for consumers, with co-author Colin Rule, the mastermind behind the ODR systems of eBay and PayPal.

In the past, when buying goods in person, deals could be sealed with a handshake. Now with the ability to buy things online in a matter of seconds, the “handshake” has become a thing of the past and customer service has become increasingly difficult. Professor Schmitz and Mr. Rule address this problem in their book, The New Handshake: Online Dispute Resolution and the Future of Consumer Protection, by providing a blueprint for an ODR process that aims to provide fast and free remedies for consumers without need for litigation or the courts.

For more information, see www.newhandshake.org.