Dear Crafters
I greatly appreciate your work and talent, and I am happy to see my digital projects come alive through your hands, turning into true works of art. I always sincerely support you when you monetize your skills and receive recognition from admirers. However, I want our interaction to be as honest and clear as possible. That’s why I created this page.
The information presented here is not based on my personal opinions, but rather part of a large, well-established legal system that regulates the use of creative works worldwide.
Unfortunately, the scale of ignorance regarding copyright laws is alarming. In embroidery communities, it’s common to hear: “If I bought a chart, I can do whatever I want with it.” There is also another extreme where crafters fear using what they’ve already purchased, worrying they might violate something. Both approaches are incorrect.
Purchasing a chart means acquiring a license to use it according to certain conditions, but not acquiring ownership of the design or chart as an object of intellectual property.
To summarize the main points briefly in two statements:
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Those who wish to understand the details may read further.
What is a License?
By purchasing a chart from sventana.com, you automatically enter into a non-exclusive license for its use. This is a digital agreement that does not require a paper version and comes into effect immediately upon purchase. A license is your personal agreement with the artist. Like buying a movie ticket or purchasing software, it:
- Does not transfer ownership of the chart itself as an object of copyright. The chart remains the intellectual property of the author.
- Grants limited rights to use the work. The buyer receives non-exclusive rights to use the chart but not to freely assign, transfer, or reproduce it without the author’s consent.
- Allows the author to protect their rights, and the buyer to legally use the work within the terms of this agreement.
✅ What the License Allows (Your Opportunities)
- You may use the charts for personal (private) purposes indefinitely and without limits. Stitch for yourself, your loved ones, or give them to friends.
- Sell finished items in limited quantities. Yes, I fully support you earning from your craftsmanship—I welcome it! Specifically:
- The private-use license allows creating limited batches (editions) of handmade items: This means you create each item by hand yourself, whether as a hobby or in a small workshop.
- What is meant by «limited batch» in this context? If you sell up to 15 copies of the same design, this is considered a limited handmade batch and is permitted under this license. However, I don’t mind if you make more—as long as you stitch them yourself by hand.
- When does this become «mass production,» requiring a different license? If you begin producing hundreds of items based on one chart, use hired labor for production, or this becomes part of larger-scale or factory production, then it exceeds the scope of this license. For such volumes, please contact me to obtain a commercial license.
- The private-use license allows creating limited batches (editions) of handmade items: This means you create each item by hand yourself, whether as a hobby or in a small workshop.
- You may modify charts for your own projects: You may adapt compositions, change thread colors, fabric, symbols, and elements to suit your project. If you make creative changes to the chart and exhibit or sell the resulting piece, you must clearly state which artistic choices were yours.
- You may participate with finished items in art exhibitions, contests, and other public events.
However, you must:- Notify me in writing (the format of the event should not contradict the principles of all co-authors).
- Indicate co-authorship:
- Your name (the embroiderer’s name).
- Name of the composition’s author — Artist Svetlana Boiko.
✅ When you work honestly, you:
✔️ Become a co-author of the artist, acting as a mediator who creates the final product for the audience.
The chart is like the “sheet music,” and you are the “musician” who materializes the digital project in the real world.
✔️ Legally become the author of the physical artwork — the finished embroidery.
Although the chart itself remains the intellectual property of the author, the finished item created from it belongs to you—the artisan who brought the project to life with your own hands.
✔️ Can monetize your skill
Sell as many items as you personally stitch by hand.
✔️ Receive recognition not only as a hobbyist but as a professional craftsman.
Your name may be legally listed at exhibitions, in catalogs, and at fairs—as the artisan who invested effort and emotion into creating a unique piece.
✔️ Can develop professionally: participate in contests, build a portfolio, and grow your career.
Honest work gives you the right to present your creations in professional circles, strengthen your reputation, and be part of the creative community.
✔️ Support the author.
Each purchase of a chart enables the artist to continue creating new projects.
✔️ Maintain respect for yourself and for the art of embroidery as a whole.
Working honestly supports ethical practices in art and helps ensure that embroidery is seen as a genuine craft deserving of respect and development.
⛔ What Must Not Be Done (Unauthorized Use)
Purchasing a chart gives you the right to use it, but not to own or redistribute it. Below are explanations of what this entails.
- You may not use charts acquired illegally.
Even if someone gave it to you. Under Russian and international law, responsibility applies to everyone involved. - You may not sell or distribute charts (in full, in parts, or modified versions)
Regardless of how you obtained them. This includes:- Posting online (on social networks, forums, messengers).
- Sharing via physical media (USB drives, printouts, etc.).
- You may not collect money for group purchases of charts.
Or any other collective method (via websites, groups, chats, forums, etc.).
Purchasing a chart grants an individual license. - You may not use charts or their elements to create your own charts or embroidery kits for commercial purposes.
This does not apply to finished embroidery: you may modify charts for your own personal projects and later sell the embroidered item. - You may not retype charts without permission from the rights holder.
This constitutes illegal copying. - You may not organize group stitching projects if only one person purchased the chart for everyone.
Charts are intended for personal use, so every participant in a group project must be a legitimate purchaser. - You may not use charts in mass-produced commercial products.
This includes logos, corporate styles, greeting cards, prints, packaging, and any other product produced in bulk—whether factory-made, printed, or involving hired workers. (For such use, you need a separate commercial license). - You may not list the artisan as the sole author of the work.
When submitting embroidery to museums or displaying it at exhibitions and contests, the artist must be credited as the creator of the composition. The artisan is the executor. Together, this is called co-authorship, so both roles must be clearly stated. (Similar to how musicians, singers, composers, and lyricists are credited during song performance or publication). - You may not participate in public or significant projects without written permission from the author.
I reserve the right to refuse participation in events whose format contradicts my principles or ethical standards.
⛔ Consequences if the Law Is Violated
❌ You cannot consider yourself part of the creative process.
If the chart was obtained illegally, your work cannot be officially recognized in the professional space of art and craft.
❌ You have no right to sell finished items—even a single copy.
Any commercial activity with such items is prohibited: neither at markets nor online sales.
❌ You cannot participate in contests, exhibitions, major events, or publications.
When signing contracts, organizers will ask for proof of the legality of the design. Without it, participation is impossible.
❌ You cannot be credited as the executing artisan.
Even if you invested time, effort, and emotions—you formally have no right to be recognized as the legitimate creator.
❌ You become complicit in distributing counterfeit material.
Even if you simply downloaded a chart from a group or accepted it from a friend—you become part of a chain undermining the foundations of the profession.
❌ You cannot expect support from the author.
You have no guarantees—only the risk of being discovered.
❌ You face legal consequences.
According to Russian and international law, those responsible for using and distributing counterfeit materials may face fines up to 5 million rubles.
❌ You cannot develop your name or career as an artisan.
Work created using an illegal chart cannot become part of your portfolio or serve as a basis for professional growth.
❌ You condition yourself to believe that someone else’s work has no value.
This is where big mistakes begin and where respect for yourself, your name, and your profession disappears.
❌ You are forced to hide.
Embroidery made from an illegal chart cannot be openly displayed. No official signatures, no publications, no recognition—just an avatar with a cat and fear of exposure.
⚠️ Legal Consequences for Violating Copyright
Under Russian law (Civil Code of the Russian Federation, Articles 1250–1253), violations of exclusive copyright result in material liability, including the obligation to pay compensation:
- Compensation between 10,000 and 5,000,000 rubles — the amount is determined by the court depending on the nature and scale of the violation.
- Payment equal to double the cost of counterfeit copies — for example, if you downloaded or distributed 100 illegal charts, compensation may be calculated based on their market price.
- Payment equal to double the cost of the license fee — if the user had accessed the chart legally, e.g., by purchasing it, and then violated the law—compensation would be calculated based on that price multiplied by two.
And again — why respect copyright?
Let’s set aside warnings about punishment and look at this from a practical, everyday perspective.
Copyright protects the work of anyone who creates something new. To me, it’s not just a formality—it’s a necessity. Only this way can I fully devote myself to my work and keep creating new projects for you. If an artist’s work is freely distributed without supporting the artist, he or she will simply stop doing it. For a professional, this isn’t a hobby—it’s his or her livelihood.
Respecting copyright is a choice between light and darkness. Creative acts are light. They are born in solitude and sleepless nights. They require time, effort, inspiration, patience, and years of learning.
Every time someone ignores these rules—even with good intentions—they open the door to shadows. The problem is that shadows create nothing. Like black holes, they suck in someone else’s light for their own gain—stealing it not only from the author but from the entire world, and ultimately, from you too.
You may feel annoyed knowing that someone got a chart for free while you paid for it yourself. But know this: as long as I continue creating new projects, there are still more good people than bad. And you are one of them.
Anyone who ever decides to become an author will understand: kindness without boundaries that ignore copyright is actually harmful. When someone generously shares a chart online that took months to draw, it quietly kills the artist. Every time someone passes the chart along, they slowly kill the artist and plant the seeds of evil.
Therefore, don’t do it. Don’t feed the shadows. Anyone can support an author—even by simply not passing on the chart. That’s also a good deed. Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable.
If you want to share with the world—share not the chart, but the piece you stitched using that chart.
Who is the author of SVENTANA charts?
The author of all charts and materials presented on the site is Svetlana Nikolaevna Boiko, working also under the registered pseudonym SVENTANA—a professional graphic artist, designer, author-publisher, and member of the Union of Russian Artists. Behind all this stands a real person—that’s me.
- Pseudonym SVENTANA (in Cyrillic and Latin scripts)
- The image «Bird Sventana» displayed in the website header
have been officially registered in the International Authors Database ISNI and assigned to Svetlana Nikolaevna Boiko permanently as identifiers of her creative activities indefinitely.
- SVENTANA — ISNI 0000000507435194 (19-07-2022)
- Svetlana Boiko — ISNI 0000000507435186 (19-07-2022)
About charts inspired by folk traditions
My charts created based on folk or historical motifs are not exact copies of originals and have the legal status of derivative works with independent artistic value. The same usage rules apply to these works as to original works. Even if the original work is out of copyright protection (e.g., the copyright term has expired), my creative adaptation—the derivative work—is separately protected by copyright apart from the original.
For Chart Designers
May you take my chart, create a derivative work from it, and then sell or distribute it? — No
A derivative work is considered lawful only in the following cases:
- The author or rights holder of the original granted written permission for modification.
- The original work is in the public domain.
- If the work contains independent artistic value. If only the color palette is changed and the rest is copied or rearranged, this is NOT considered a derivative work.
- If the color palette is preserved and the composition is original, this is considered a derivative work.
I occasionally find pieces of my charts used in others’ charts. I’ve heard from designers themselves: “If someone steals from you, it’s a compliment. I, for example, wouldn’t mind.” Unfortunately, in 90% of such cases, these “kind” people have nothing worth borrowing, and their kindness holds no value.
Dear designers, treat this like a doormat outside someone else’s door—if it’s lying freely and you don’t mind that your own mat isn’t missing, it still doesn’t mean you can roll up someone else’s mat or cut off a piece you like and go sell it.
Where Can You Legally Buy SVENTANA Charts?
Svetlana Boiko’s (SVENTANA) charts are legally sold only on two platforms:
- Official website: sventana.com
- Temporarily on the platform boosty.to/sventana (only upon request)
About Exhibitions, Contests, and Museums
By stitching a work from my chart, the artisan automatically becomes the performing artist of the specific physical item and may participate with it in exhibitions and contests, subject to the license terms. I frequently encounter artisans listing themselves as the sole author of the work. This violates my copyright.
Therefore, when submitting embroidery to contests, museums (including other forms of art based on my charts), please follow these rules:
Notify me in writing.
As the author, I reserve the right to refuse participation in any public events if the project format contradicts my principles (political, humanistic, etc.).
Indicate co-authorship:
- Name of the artisan (the person who did the embroidery), and the name of the artist—the author of the composition (Svetlana Boiko / SVENTANA).
- If the chart was based on a historical or public-domain work, note that this is not a direct copy but a derivative work with independent artistic value. It is separately protected by law (Read more in the article, point 17). Therefore, alongside the original source, my name must also be mentioned.
Which exhibitions are considered significant?
- State and national art exhibitions
- International exhibitions, art fairs, and biennales
- Professional thematic exhibitions (textile, handicraft, applied arts, etc.)
- Competitive exhibitions with jury selection
- Exhibitions organized by creative unions (e.g., the Union of Artists)
- Exhibitions in state and municipal museums
- Personal or group exhibitions in renowned galleries
- Curated projects involving recognized experts
- International festivals and salons of decorative and applied art
- Exhibitions accompanied by diplomas, catalogs, and official media coverage
Rules for Quoting Images and Texts Without Permission
Quoting texts and images for informational, scientific, and educational purposes is allowed without the author’s permission, provided that:
- The author and source must be clearly identified;
- The volume of the quote must be reasonably limited and justified by the purpose of the publication (no more than 50% of the article; for academic papers—not more than 10%);
- Quoted text must not replace the original material;
Using texts and images for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. Using images and texts included in paid products is forbidden for any purposes. (In this case, simply stating the author’s name does not grant the right to use the materials.)
In conclusion
Copyright is:
- Personal respect for another person’s time, labor, and financial investment based on moral and basic human principles.
- Spiritual laws that operate based on higher justice and reward each person according to their actions.
- The «Law on Copyright and Related Rights.»
More questions and answers about copyright in my article.
If you have a question not covered in these articles, please email me at: art@sventana.com (Svetlana Boiko).
