This just in from Lorraine Johnson: We have been discussing concerns regarding the IDSA hearing viewing restrictions with the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, who has assured us that the registration requirement has been lifted and provided us with other information about the hearing. The information is fluid and more details may emerge. I will keep you posted on this as news develops.

Registration requirement lifted:  The IDSA has agreed to lift the requirement that patients provide name, email, state or any other information in order to watch the hearings.  Yes!   

IDSA position on copyright issue posted:    The IDSA may post a notice regarding its position on copyright issues, but there is no requirement that people agree to these terms.

System requirements:  Now for the bad news, you still should make sure your computer will work with the IDSA hearing website.  You will need to have a media player to watch the hearings. There are apparently a number of viewing systems such as flash, windows media player, quicktime and Microsoft Silverlight.  The IDSA site has a link that you can use to check your system’s compatibility.  To test your system, you have to provide a name and email.  This is not an IDSA requirement, it is how You-niversity webcasting site works and they will not change it for this one webcast.  (They do not email you back so if you are worried about this, a fake name and email may work.)  I encourage everyone to check out their systems compatibility on the IDSA website well in advance (Now!) so that you have no snafus.  You can call technical support if you have problems starting later this afternoon.   1-877-867-7300. I also have been told that dial up web connection will probably not work (or you may just get audio). 

Virtual lobby:  They will be using a “virtual lobby”.  I have been told that this should be up and running tomorrow so that people can ensure that they can view the hearings on Thursday. I have a question pending about this, but wanted to at least post what I have been told rather than delay posting.

We will update this website as more information becomes available.