Dispute Process

Dispute Procedure

Notes

• Proposed to stand as trial period until the next network meeting when it can be re-discussed.
• Collective is defined as five people or more.
• Suggested that IMC member is a participant on the lists or somehow otherwise involved.
• Time period are there that if not solved within time, it automatically drops to the next level.

Process

Start: An article/issue is published/arises and is deadlocked over what status it should be. It then goes to disputed status if blocked (not via non-block) as to what should/should not happen to the article/issue. At this point the article moves into 'disputed' status (statement on the page to say it is disputed and it is not hidden but only is accessible if you know the URL)

• From here consensus minus one of those on the list involved who can participate can decide the outcome. At this point onwards those who can participate in a decision – need to be a member of a collective or vouched for by a collective or a known contributor.
  • If not, no more emails to list at this point onwards. Lists/Individuals involved to be told of this point and if anyone still emails about it, they can be blocked. Dates for all events in process and that it is in process should be added to disputed page. Once process starts, for voice to count need to agree to abide by the process.
    • Mediation (prefer to use, in order; meetings, phone/skype, irc chat, email). 1 week to organise and and 1 week to mediate. Mediator is somebody from within the collective agreed by both sides.
      • Mediator as arbitrator If there is an mediator, both sides can option that they can be the arbitrator and make a decision. 1 week max to do so.
        • Collective consensus minus one can then decide (minimum four collectives involved total) 1 week for this to happen.
          • Forced arbitration – go to global resolve list, as for an arbitrator who then decides. And we all stick to it.