EDRM is open to everyone. Participants are required to contribute their time and expertise, without which the projects could not function and would not succeed. It is expected that participants will offer relevant and valuable assistance to the EDRM Projects.

We do not set minimum time requirements; rather, we ask that participants make a good faith effort to be active, productive contributors. We strongly suggest that participants limit themselves to one or two working groups.

Participants are also required to pay an annual (May to May) non-prorated fee to participate in ongoing activities and project work. The fee is based on (a) the type and size of organization and (b) number of projects in which the organization chooses to participate.

Types of Participants

For purposes of EDRM membership, a "provider" organization is one whose primary involvement with electronic discovery is as a direct or indirect provider of services or software. Examples include, but are not limited to, companies that sell software used to collect, process or host electronically stored information and companies that engage in the collection, processing or hosting of ESI.

A "consumer" organization is one whose primary involvment with electronic discovery is as a direct or indirect consumer of electronic discovery services or software offered by the provider organizations. This category includes law firms and corporations who contend with electronic discovery challenges. It does not include providers, as described above, even though they may use electronic disovery services or software offered by others.

An "individual" participant is someone who elects to participate in EDRM on his or her own behalf and not as a representative of any other organizations. Starting with the 2009-2010 kick-off meeting, individual participants who attend the Spring and Fall face-to-face working meetings will be required to pay an additional fee of $250 per meeting attended to cover a portion of meeting expenses.

Fees

*Temporary Waiver

In response to the current economic challenges and the accompanying reduction in electronic discovery personnel at service and software providers, law firms and corporations, for select individuals we are temporarily waiving the individual EDRM participation fee.

This waiver applies to individuals who have lost, or are about to lose, positions in the electronic discovery field.

Individual participants who elect to attend the Spring and Fall EDRM face-to-face working meetings will still be required to pay a fee to cover a portion of meeting expenses.

We know this will not solve everyone’s problems; we hope at least it can ease the pain a little.