Effective date: July 1, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies on artemsemkin.com, what each one does, and how you can control them. It works alongside our Privacy Policy.
1) What cookies are
Cookies are small text files a website stores on your device. “First-party” cookies are set by us; “third-party” cookies are set by other services we use (such as Google or our checkout provider). We also use similar technologies like your browser’s local storage. Some are essential for the site to work; others are optional and used only with your consent.
2) How you control cookies
When you first visit, our consent banner lets you accept or reject the optional categories. Analytics and Marketing cookies stay off until you accept them — we use Google Consent Mode v2, so these are denied by default. You can change your choice at any time using the “Cookie preferences” link in our footer, which reopens the banner. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though some essential features may then stop working.
3) The categories we use
- Strictly necessary — required for the site, your account, and checkout to function. Always on.
- Functional — remember your preferences (e.g. the licence options you picked on a product).
- Analytics — help us understand site traffic and purchases. Off until you accept.
- Marketing — support advertising measurement and embedded video. Off until you accept.
- Security — protect our forms from spam and abuse (Google reCAPTCHA). For your security this loads on form pages regardless of consent; it only tells humans from bots and is not used to advertise to you.
4) Cookies we use
Strictly necessary
| Cookie | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| arts_consent | Remembers your cookie choices (set by us) | 180 days |
| arts_discount, arts_discount_utm | Keeps a discount code and its campaign context so it applies at checkout (us) | Until the discount expires (~30 days) |
| wordpress_logged_in_*, wordpress_sec_* | Keeps you signed in to your account (WordPress) | Session |
| EDD cart / session | Cart and checkout state (Easy Digital Downloads) | Session |
| __cf_bm, cf_clearance | Bot and abuse protection at our CDN (Cloudflare) | 30 minutes – 1 year |
| _lscache_* | Page caching for performance (our server) | Session |
Functional
| Cookie | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| arts_buy_choice_* (local storage) | Remembers the licence options you selected on a product (us) | Until you clear browser storage |
| elementor (local storage) | Page and widget display state (Elementor) | Until you clear browser storage |
Analytics (set only after you accept)
| Cookie | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_<id> | Measures site traffic and completed purchases (Google Analytics 4) | Up to 2 years |
| arts_attribution | Records anonymously how you first reached the site — no personal identifier (us); see the note below | 90 days |
Marketing (set only after you accept)
| Cookie | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, YSC | Plays an embedded YouTube video on product pages that include one; loads when you start the video (YouTube / Google) | Session – 6 months |
| vuid and player cookies | Plays an embedded Vimeo video on product pages that include one; loads when you start the video (Vimeo) | Up to 2 years |
Security
| Cookie | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| _GRECAPTCHA | Protects our contact, inquiry, and newsletter forms from spam and bots (Google reCAPTCHA) | ~6 months |
Note on arts_attribution: this cookie is anonymous and used only for our own internal measurement (it is not shared and carries no personal identifier), so it is set without a separate consent prompt. It is only ever connected to an order if you go on to purchase and have accepted Analytics.
5) Checkout cookies (Freemius)
When you buy directly from us, checkout is operated by Freemius, Inc., our payment provider and merchant of record. During checkout, Freemius and its payment partners (such as Stripe, PayPal, and Cloudflare) set their own cookies to process payment, prevent fraud, and remember campaign or affiliate context — for example __fs_session, __fs_check, __fs_allow_cookies, __fs_fomo, __fs_exit_popup, campaign, and aff_* (durations from session up to 3 years). These are controlled by Freemius under their own policy. You can review them and opt out on the Freemius checkout cookie policy.
6) Third-party services and their policies
- Google (Analytics & reCAPTCHA) — Privacy Policy
- Freemius (checkout / merchant of record) — Privacy Policy & checkout cookies
- Vimeo — Privacy Policy
- YouTube (Google) — Privacy Policy
- Cloudflare — Privacy Policy
7) Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as our services or the law change. We will revise the “Effective date” above and, for material changes, highlight them on the site.
8) Contact
Questions about cookies or your data? Email me@artemsemkin.com. See also our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.