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Critics Question Policy On Photos of Climbable NYC Sculpture

The 150-foot lattice of stairways opened Friday on Manhattan's west side

What to Know

  • The 150-foot lattice of stairways known as The Vessel opened Friday on Manhattan's west side
  • Critics are questioning a policy that grants the attraction's owners broad rights to use photos posted by visitors
  • Terms and conditions include language granting the Vessel the right "in perpetuity" to publish or distribute any photos and videos of it

Days after a climbable sculpture called the Vessel opened at New York's Hudson Yards megadevelopment, critics are questioning a policy that grants the attraction's owners broad rights to use photos posted by visitors.

The 150-foot lattice of stairways opened Friday on Manhattan's west side.

Terms and conditions that visitors must click on to secure a free ticket include language granting the Vessel the right "in perpetuity" to publish or distribute any photos and videos of the structure posted by visitors on social media.

A spokeswoman for developer Related says similar policies are in place at other attractions around the nation.

But Democratic City Council member Ben Kallos says he will introduce legislation to make sure that tourists' photos and videos "are not taken and sold to the highest bidder."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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