Privacy Policy

1. Data protection at a glance

General information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit our website. Personal data is any data by which you can be personally identified. Detailed information on the subject of data protection can be found in our privacy policy listed below this text.

Data collection on our website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?
The data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the legal notice (Impressum) of this website.

How do we collect your data?
On the one hand, your data is collected when you communicate it to us. This can be, for example, data that you enter into a contact form. Other data is collected automatically by our IT systems when you visit the website. This is mainly technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of the page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter our website.

What do we use your data for?
Part of the data is collected to ensure the error-free provision of the website. Other data can be used to analyze your user behavior.

What rights do you have regarding your data?
You have the right at any time to receive information free of charge about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have a right to request the rectification, blocking, or erasure of this data. For this purpose, as well as for further questions on the subject of data protection, you can contact us at any time at the address given in the legal notice. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. Details on this can be found in the privacy policy under "Right to restriction of processing".

Analysis tools and tools from third-party providers

When visiting our website, your surfing behavior can be statistically evaluated. This happens mainly with cookies and with so-called analysis programs. The analysis of your surfing behavior is usually anonymous; the surfing behavior cannot be traced back to you. You can object to this analysis or prevent it by not using certain tools. Detailed information can be found in the following privacy policy.

You can object to this analysis. We will inform you about the objection options in this privacy policy.

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2. General notes and mandatory information

Data protection

The operators of these pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data are collected. Personal data is data by which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens.

We point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., when communicating by e-mail) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the responsible body

The responsible body for data processing on this website is:

The responsible body is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g., names, e-mail addresses, etc.).

Revocation of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke consent you have already given at any time. An informal notification by e-mail to us is sufficient for this purpose. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to the collection of data in special cases and to direct marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

If data processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR, you have the right to object at any time, for reasons arising from your particular situation, to the processing of your personal data; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. The respective legal basis on which processing is based can be found in this privacy policy. If you object, we will no longer process your affected personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing that outweigh your interests, rights, and freedoms, or the processing serves the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims (objection pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR).

If your personal data is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If you object, your personal data will subsequently no longer be used for direct marketing purposes (objection pursuant to Art. 21(2) GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, their place of work, or the place of the alleged violation. The right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of data to another responsible body, this will only be done to the extent technically feasible.

SSL or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or inquiries that you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Information, blocking, erasure, and rectification

Within the framework of the applicable statutory provisions, you have the right at any time to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipient, and the purpose of data processing and, if applicable, a right to rectification, blocking, or erasure of this data. For this purpose, as well as for further questions on the subject of personal data, you can contact us at any time at the address given in the legal notice.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. For this purpose, you can contact us at any time at the address given in the legal notice. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases:

• If you contest the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the audit, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.
• If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of erasure.
• If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend, or establish legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of erasure.
• If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it is not yet clear whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data – apart from its storage – may only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

Objection to advertising e-mails

The use of contact data published within the scope of the legal notice obligation for sending non-explicitly requested advertising and information materials is hereby contradicted. The operators of the pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of advertising information, such as through spam e-mails.

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3. Data collection on our website

Cookies

Some of the internet pages use so-called cookies. Cookies do not harm your computer and do not contain viruses. Cookies serve to make our offer more user-friendly, effective, and secure. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and saved by your browser.

Most of the cookies we use are so-called "session cookies". They are automatically deleted after the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognize your browser on your next visit.

You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and allow cookies only in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for specific cases or in general, and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be restricted.

Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process or to provide certain functions you desire (e.g., shopping cart function) are stored on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. Insofar as other cookies (e.g., cookies for analyzing your surfing behavior) are stored, they are treated separately in this privacy policy.

Server log files

The provider of the pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

• Browser type and browser version
• Operating system used
• Referrer URL
• Host name of the accessing computer
• Time of the server request
• IP address

A consolidation of this data with other data sources is not carried out.

The collection of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimization of its website – for this purpose, the server log files must be recorded.

Contact form

If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your details from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provided there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not pass on this data without your consent.

The processing of the data entered into the contact form is therefore carried out exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can revoke this consent at any time. An informal notification by e-mail to us is sufficient for this purpose. The legality of the data processing operations carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

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4. Analysis tools and advertising

Google Analytics

This website uses functions of the web analysis service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Google Analytics uses so-called "cookies". These are text files that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

The storage of Google Analytics cookies and the use of this analysis tool are based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both its website offer and its advertising.

IP Anonymization: We have activated the IP anonymization function on this website. As a result, your IP address will be shortened by Google within Member States of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services related to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data.

Browser Plugin: You can prevent the storage of cookies by setting your browser software accordingly; however, we point out that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of this website to their full extent. You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) to Google and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available under the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

Objection to data collection: You can prevent the collection of your data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set, which prevents the collection of your data on future visits to this website: Deactivate Google Analytics.

More information on handling user data at Google Analytics can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=es.

Contract Data Processing: We have entered into a contract data processing agreement with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

Demographic characteristics in Google Analytics: This website uses the "demographic characteristics" function of Google Analytics. This allows reports to be created that contain statements on the age, gender, and interests of site visitors. This data comes from interest-based advertising from Google as well as visitor data from third-party providers. This data cannot be assigned to a specific person. You can deactivate this function at any time via the ad settings in your Google account or generally prohibit the collection of your data by Google Analytics as shown in the section "Objection to data collection".

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5. Newsletter

Newsletter data

If you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we require an e-mail address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the specified e-mail address and agree to receive the newsletter. Further data is not collected or only on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The processing of the data entered into the newsletter registration form takes place exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can revoke your consent to the storage of data, the e-mail address, and their use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the "unsubscribe" link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you deposit with us for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter will be stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted after you cancel the newsletter. Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected by this.

MailChimp

This website uses the services of MailChimp for sending newsletters. The provider is the Rocket Science Group LLC, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Suite 5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA.

MailChimp is a service with which, among other things, the dispatch of newsletters can be organized and analyzed. If you enter data for the purpose of receiving newsletters (e.g., e-mail address), it will be stored on MailChimp's servers in the USA.

MailChimp has a certification according to the "EU-US Privacy Shield". The "Privacy Shield" is an agreement between the European Union (EU) and the USA designed to ensure compliance with European data protection standards in the USA.

With the help of MailChimp, we can analyze our newsletter campaigns. When you open an e-mail sent with MailChimp, a file contained in the e-mail (so-called web beacon) connects to MailChimp's servers in the USA. This allows us to determine whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links, if any, were clicked. Technical information is also recorded (e.g., time of retrieval, IP address, browser type, and operating system). This information cannot be assigned to the respective newsletter recipient. It serves exclusively for the statistical analysis of newsletter campaigns. The results of these analyses can be used to better adapt future newsletters to the interests of the recipients.

If you do not want an analysis by MailChimp, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter. For this purpose, we provide a corresponding link in every newsletter message. Furthermore, you can also unsubscribe from the newsletter directly on the website.

Data processing is based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can revoke this consent at any time by unsubscribing from the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you deposit with us for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter will be stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted from both our servers and MailChimp's servers after you cancel the newsletter. Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected by this.

For details, please refer to MailChimp's privacy policy at: https://mailchimp.com/legal/terms/.

Conclusion of a Data Processing Agreement: We have entered into a so-called "Data Processing Agreement" with MailChimp, in which we oblige MailChimp to protect our customers' data and not to pass it on to third parties. This contract can be viewed at the following link: https://mailchimp.com/legal/forms/data-processing-agreement/....

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6. Plugins and tools

Cookie Consent Manager

Our website uses a Cookie Consent Manager to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies on your device or to the use of certain technologies and to document this in a data protection-compliant manner. The provider of this technology is Daka Media KG / Rehost24, 33609 Bielefeld (hereinafter "Rehost24").

When you enter our website, a connection is established to Rehost24's servers in order to obtain your consents and other declarations regarding cookie usage. Rehost24 then stores a cookie in your browser in order to be able to assign the granted consents or their revocation to you. The data collected in this way will be stored until you request us to delete it, delete the "Rehost24 Cookie Consent Manager" cookie yourself, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies. Mandatory statutory retention obligations remain unaffected.

The use of "Rehost24 Cookie Consent Manager" takes place to obtain the legally required consents for the use of cookies. The legal basis for this is Art. 6(1)(1)(c) GDPR.

Google reCAPTCHA

We use "Google reCAPTCHA" (hereinafter "reCAPTCHA") on our websites. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA ("Google").

reCAPTCHA is intended to check whether data entry on our websites (e.g., in a contact form) is carried out by a human or by an automated program. To do this, reCAPTCHA analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis begins automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the website. For analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates various information (e.g., IP address, time spent by the website visitor on the website, or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Google.

The reCAPTCHA analyses run completely in the background. Website visitors are not advised that an analysis is taking place.

Data processing is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offers from abusive automated spying and from SPAM.

For more information on Google reCAPTCHA and Google's privacy policy, please see the following links: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en and https://www.google.com/recaptcha/intro/android.html.