The parties to a dispute sometimes choose to resolve a dispute through arbitration rather than through court litigation. In arbitration, a dispute is resolved by a neutral arbitrator rather than by a judge or jury. Arbitration is generally quicker and cheaper than court litigation. Specially qualified arbitrators often are used to resolve technical disputes. Both parties must agree to submit their dispute to arbitration.
Many contracts require that disputes be resolved through arbitration rather than through litigation.
In the United States, many arbitration cases are handled by arbitrators approved by the American Arbitration Association, which has offices in a number of cities. Arbitration is similar to a trial in that both parties present their cases to the arbitrator, who renders a decision. Appeals of arbitrators' decisions generally are possible only if the arbitration was conducted improperly. Government Offices and Agencies Government offices and agencies play an important role in our legal system. The Copyright Office and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are the key federal government offices for multimedia developers and publishers.