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 that can be used to personally identify you. 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?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find the operator's contact details in the legal notice of this website.

How do we collect your data?

Some of your data is collected when you provide it to us. This may include data that you enter into a contact form, for example.

Other data is collected automatically by our IT systems when you visit the website. This primarily concerns technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system or time the page was accessed). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter our website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure that the website is provided without errors. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to obtain information free of charge about the origin, recipients and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the correction, blocking or deletion of this data. For this purpose, as well as for any further questions regarding data protection, you can contact us at any time at the address stated in the legal notice. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

Analytics Tools and Third-Party Tools

When visiting our website, your browsing behaviour may be statistically evaluated. This is primarily done using cookies and so-called analytics programmes. The analysis of your browsing behaviour is generally anonymous; browsing behaviour cannot be traced back to you. You can object to this analysis or prevent it by not using certain tools. Detailed information on this can be found in the following privacy policy.

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

2. General Information 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 applicable statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data that can be used to personally identify you. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

We would like to point out that data transmission over the internet (e.g. when communicating by email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Withdrawal of Your Consent to Data Processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You may withdraw consent that you have already given at any time. An informal notification by email is sufficient. The lawfulness of data processing carried out prior to the withdrawal remains unaffected by the withdrawal.

Right to Data Portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfilment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be carried out where technically feasible.

SSL or TLS Encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or enquiries that you send to us as the website operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the browser address bar changing from “http://” to “https://” and by the padlock symbol displayed in your browser. When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Information, Blocking, Deletion

Within the scope of the applicable statutory provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients and the purpose of data processing and, where applicable, the right to have this data corrected, blocked or deleted. For this purpose, as well as for any further questions regarding personal data, you can contact us at any time at the address stated in the legal notice.

Objection to Promotional Emails

We hereby object to the use of contact details published as part of our legal notice requirements for sending unsolicited advertising and informational materials. The operators of these pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited promotional information being sent, for example by spam emails.

3. Data Collection on Our Website

Cookies

Our websites use so-called cookies in some cases. Cookies do not cause any damage to your computer and do not contain viruses. Cookies serve to make our website 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 you leave our website. Other cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognise your browser the next time you visit our website.

You can configure your browser so that you are informed when cookies are being set and only allow cookies on a case-by-case basis, accept cookies in certain cases or generally exclude them, as well as activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are disabled, the functionality of this website may be limited.

Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process or to provide certain functions requested by you (e.g. shopping cart functionality) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimised provision of its services. If other cookies (e.g. cookies for analysing your browsing behaviour) are stored, these will be treated separately in this privacy policy.

Server Log Files

The provider of the website 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
• Hostname of the accessing computer
• Time of the server request
• IP address

This data is not combined with data from other sources.

The basis for data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the fulfilment of a contract or pre-contractual measures.

Contact Form

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

The processing of the data entered into the contact form is therefore based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You may withdraw this consent at any time. An informal notification by email is sufficient. The lawfulness of data processing carried out prior to the withdrawal remains unaffected.

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

Comment Function on This Website

In addition to your comment, the comment function on this page stores information about the time the comment was created, your email address and, if you do not post anonymously, the username you have selected.

Storage of the IP Address

Our comment function stores the IP addresses of users who post comments. Since we do not check comments on our site before they are published, we require this data in order to be able to take action against the author in the event of legal violations such as insults or propaganda.

Subscribing to Comments

As a user of the website, you can subscribe to comments after registering. You will receive a confirmation email to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided. You can unsubscribe from this function at any time using a link in the information emails. In this case, the data entered when subscribing to comments will be deleted; however, if you have provided this data to us for other purposes and elsewhere (e.g. when subscribing to a newsletter), it will remain with us.

Storage Period of Comments

The comments and the associated data (e.g. IP address) are stored and remain on our website until the commented content has been completely deleted or the comments have to be deleted for legal reasons (e.g. offensive comments).

Legal Basis

Comments are stored on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You may withdraw consent that you have given at any time. An informal notification by email is sufficient. The lawfulness of data processing already carried out remains unaffected by the withdrawal.

4. Social Media

Sharing Content via Plugins (Facebook, Google+1, Twitter & Co.)

The content on our pages can be shared in a data protection-compliant manner on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or Google+. This website uses the eRecht24 Safe Sharing Tool for this purpose. This tool only establishes direct contact between the networks and users when the user actively clicks on one of these buttons.

This tool does not automatically transmit user data to the operators of these platforms. If the user is logged in to one of the social networks, an information window appears when using the social buttons of Facebook, Google+1, Twitter & Co., in which the user can confirm the text before sending it.

Our users can share the content of this page in social networks in a data protection-compliant manner without the operators of the networks creating complete browsing profiles.

Facebook Plugins (Like & Share Button)

Our pages contain plugins from the social network Facebook, provided by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. You can recognise the Facebook plugins by the Facebook logo or the “Like” button on our page. An overview of the Facebook plugins can be found here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/.

When you visit our pages, the plugin establishes a direct connection between your browser and the Facebook server. Facebook thereby receives information that you have visited our page with your IP address. If you click the Facebook “Like” button while logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of our pages to your Facebook profile. This enables Facebook to associate your visit to our pages with your user account. Please note that, as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how it is used by Facebook. Further information can be found in Facebook's privacy policy at: https://de-de.facebook.com/policy.php.

If you do not want Facebook to associate your visit to our pages with your Facebook user account, please log out of your Facebook user account.

Twitter Plugin

Our pages incorporate functions of the Twitter service. These functions are provided by Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. By using Twitter and the “Re-Tweet” function, the websites you visit are linked to your Twitter account and made known to other users. Data is also transmitted to Twitter. Please note that, as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how it is used by Twitter. Further information can be found in Twitter's privacy policy at: https://twitter.com/privacy.

You can change your privacy settings on Twitter in your account settings at https://twitter.com/account/settings.

LinkedIn Plugin

Our website uses functions of the LinkedIn network. The provider is LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Each time one of our pages containing LinkedIn functions is accessed, a connection is established to LinkedIn servers. LinkedIn is informed that you have visited our website with your IP address. If you click the LinkedIn “Recommend” button while logged into your LinkedIn account, LinkedIn can associate your visit to our website with you and your user account. Please note that, as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how it is used by LinkedIn.

Further information can be found in LinkedIn's privacy policy at: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

XING Plugin

Our website uses functions of the XING network. The provider is XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.

Each time one of our pages containing XING functions is accessed, a connection to XING servers is established. To the best of our knowledge, no personal data is stored in this process. In particular, no IP addresses are stored and no usage behaviour is analysed.

Further information on data protection and the XING Share Button can be found in XING's privacy policy at: https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection.

5. Analytics Tools and Advertising

Google Analytics

This website uses functions of the web analytics 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 generally transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Google Analytics cookies are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analysing user behaviour in order to optimise both its website and its advertising.

IP Anonymisation

We have activated the IP anonymisation function on this website. As a result, Google truncates your IP address within Member States of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission to the USA. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity and provide other services related to website 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 cookies from being stored by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser software; however, please note that in this case you may not be able to use all the functions of this website to their full extent. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and from processing this data by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

Objection to Data Collection

You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set that prevents your data from being collected during future visits to this website: Deactivate Google Analytics.

More information on how user data is handled by Google Analytics can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a data processing agreement with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

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 used to determine whether data is entered on our websites (e.g. in a contact form) by a human or by an automated programme. For this purpose, reCAPTCHA analyses the behaviour of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis starts automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the website. For the analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates various information (e.g. IP address, length of time the website visitor spends on the website or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Google.

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

Data processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its online services against abusive automated activity and spam. Further information about Google reCAPTCHA and Google's privacy policy can be found at the following links: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/ and https://www.google.com/recaptcha/intro/android.html.

6. Newsletter

Newsletter Data

If you wish to subscribe to the newsletter offered on the website, we require your email address and information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No additional data is collected, or only on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively to send the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The processing of the data entered into the newsletter registration form is based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You may withdraw your consent to the storage of the data, the email address and its use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the “Unsubscribe” link in the newsletter. The lawfulness of data processing already carried out remains unaffected by the withdrawal.

The data stored by us for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted after you unsubscribe. Data that has been stored by us for other purposes (e.g. email addresses for the members' area) remains unaffected.

MailChimp

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

MailChimp is a service that can be used, among other things, to organise and analyse the distribution of newsletters. If you enter data for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter (e.g. email address), this data is stored on MailChimp's servers in the USA.

MailChimp has certification under the “EU-US Privacy Shield”. The “Privacy Shield” is an agreement between the European Union (EU) and the USA intended to ensure compliance with European data protection standards in the USA.

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

If you do not want MailChimp to perform an analysis, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter. We provide an appropriate link in every newsletter message for this purpose. You can also unsubscribe from the newsletter directly on the website.

Data processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You may withdraw this consent at any time by unsubscribing from the newsletter. The lawfulness of data processing already carried out remains unaffected by the withdrawal.

The data stored by us for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored until you unsubscribe and will then be deleted from both our servers and MailChimp's servers. Data that has been stored by us for other purposes (e.g. email addresses for the members' area) remains unaffected.

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

Conclusion of a Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a so-called “Data Processing Agreement” with MailChimp, in which we require MailChimp to protect our customers' data and not to disclose it to third parties. This agreement can be viewed at the following link: https://mailchimp.com/legal/forms/data-processing-agreement/sample-agreement/.

7. Plugins and Tools

YouTube

Our website uses plugins from the YouTube website operated by Google. The operator of the website is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

When you visit one of our pages equipped with a YouTube plugin, a connection to YouTube's servers is established. The YouTube server is informed which of our pages you have visited.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to directly associate your browsing behaviour with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

YouTube is used in the interest of providing an appealing presentation of our online services. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in YouTube's privacy policy at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.

Vimeo

Our website uses plugins from the video portal Vimeo. The provider is Vimeo Inc., 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA.

When you visit one of our pages equipped with a Vimeo plugin, a connection to Vimeo's servers is established. The Vimeo server is informed which of our pages you have visited. Vimeo also receives your IP address. This also applies if you are not logged into Vimeo or do not have a Vimeo account. The information collected by Vimeo is transmitted to Vimeo's servers in the USA.

If you are logged into your Vimeo account, you enable Vimeo to directly associate your browsing behaviour with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your Vimeo account.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in Vimeo's privacy policy at: https://vimeo.com/privacy.

Google Web Fonts

This website uses so-called web fonts provided by Google to ensure consistent font display. When you access a page, your browser loads the required web fonts into its browser cache in order to display texts and fonts correctly.

For this purpose, the browser you use must establish a connection to Google's servers. This enables Google to become aware that our website has been accessed via your IP address. Google Web Fonts are used in the interest of providing a consistent and appealing presentation of our online services. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information about Google Web Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google's privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Google Maps

This website uses the Google Maps mapping service via an API. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

To use the functions of Google Maps, it is necessary to store your IP address. This information is generally transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The provider of this website has no influence on this data transmission.

Google Maps is used in the interest of providing an appealing presentation of our online services and making it easier to find the locations specified by us on the website. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

More information on how user data is handled can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.