[Ecommerce] Feb 6 Washington, DC meeting on ADR and Hague convention on jurisdiction and foreign judgments

[James Love]

This is a brief note.  The FTC is interested in having a meeting with
TACD and the GBDe on February 6, looking at ADR and the Hague
convention, it will be a full day event.

   The FTC proposal is for 20 participants in the morning and evening,
10 each representing TACD and GBDe, plus 5 participants selected by the
FTC.  Could be different or same people morning and afternoon.  
  
   The format is for one person to present TACD and GBDe positions (one
for each group), and then have a long panel discussion.

   TACD and GBDe would each have complete freedom to choose their own
participants.  It is not necessary for the TACD particapants to be
members of the TACD, for example.  We can select people from any
country, any profession, working for any organization  -- its up to us.

   It seems to me that we would need to do a few things.

1.  Discuss if TACD should agree to sponsor this meeting.  I strongly
support going forward, and of course, we have been asking for something
like this for some time.

2.  Who should represent TACD on the panels?   It would be useful to
have an expression of interest from those who are interested and
available to participate in this Washington, DC event, and also,
information about issues relating to travel expenses, if this is a
problem.   

3.  Who will decide on who TACD selects for the participants?   Me and
Dirk?  An ad hoc committee?  

3.  Should we go in with a strategy for the meeting?  We have a number
of relevant TACD resolutions that seem to provide the framework for a
TACD position, but we might want to sharpen the message.  For example,
if the ADR system implies some type of regulation or safehaven from
regulation, should we push to explore in more detail the alternative
models for governance that establish the critiria for a good ADR?  

   Apparently it would be a good idea to have some tennative
recommendations by January 11th or 12th.  

   Barbara Wellbery and Scott Cooper (HP) will be coordinating for the
GBDe.   Manon Ress <mress@essential.org> is available to coordinate for
our side, and people can write her directly with suggestions or
comments, or post directly to the tacd-ecommerce list.  

   Jamie

-- 
James Love  <love@cptech.org>  http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 200036
voice 1.202.387.8030 fax 1.202.234.5176