How does the scheme work?

All IPSO's national newspaper publishers are members of the compulsory scheme. That means that if you want to make a claim they must agree to arbitration. Some other publishers participate in the voluntary scheme, which means you can request to arbitrate but the publisher is not obliged to do so.

1. Inquiry

Fill out an inquiry form briefly setting out the details of your claim

2. Claim form

IPSO assess your claim to make sure it falls within the remit of the scheme
If it is, IPSO will send you a claim form for you to set out your claim in more detail

3. Referral stage

After IPSO receives the completed claim form and supporting evidence, we refer the claim to the publication
The publication has 14 days to respond your claim
There is an opportunity for you (the claimant) and the publication to try to resolve your claim during this stage, which we call the "referral stage"
This stage lasts up to 28 days

4. Transfer of claim to CEDR

If not resolved during the referral stage, IPSO will transfer your claim to the arbitration company, CEDR
You will sign an arbitration agreement and pay £50 to CEDR

5. Arbitrator appointed

CEDR will appoint an arbitrator from the panel

6. Preliminary ruling

The arbitrator examines your claim to make sure it is suitable for the scheme. Please note that your claim may not be suitable if it is particularly complex, requires disclosure from a number of third parties, or is likely to take a long time to resolve. More information of suitability can be found here.
If the arbitrator does not strike out your claim and it is suitable, they will give an initial ruling on the core issues of the case
This initial ruling, whilst binding, will not lead to any award of damages or require parties to reimburse costs or fees. However, it can be use to help parties resolve the claim

7. Interim period

There is a pause in proceedings (21 days) in which both you and the publication can decide how to proceed based on the preliminary ruling

8. Final ruling

If your claim is not resolved, you can decide to proceed to a final ruling
You pay another £50 to CEDR for their final ruling
The final ruling is a binding ruling which can require a range of remedies
The final ruling will normally be published on the IPSO website

9. Fees and costs

If your claim is successful, the arbitrator will require that your fee (£100) is returned to you by the publication
They may also award you legal costs if appropriate

Strike-out

Your claim may be struck out at any point during the above process, but usually at the earliest possible stage. You will be given notice of this and a chance to respond. Your claim may be struck out if the arbitrator determines:

your claim is wholly without merit
your claim is trivial, frivolous or vexatious
your behaviour has frustrated the arbitration process

Following a strikeout, the arbitrator will require you to reimburse the publisher's fees and may require you to reimburse their legal costs (up to the cost cap).