Data protection

Privacy policy - Status January 2025

Table of contents

• Introduction and overview
• Scope of application
• Legal basis
• Contact details of the controller
• Storage period
• Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation
• Data transfer to third countries
• Security of data processing
• Communication
• Data processing agreement (AVV)
• cookies
• Application data
• Customer data
• Registration
• Web hosting introduction
• Web Analytics Introduction
• Email marketing introduction
• Push messages introduction
• Messenger & Communication Introduction
• Chatbots Introduction
• Social Media Introduction
• Online Marketing Introduction
• Content Delivery Networks Introduction
• Security & Anti-Spam
• Cloud Services
• Payment Providers Introduction
• External Online Platforms Introduction
• Audio & Video Introduction
• Video Conferencing & Streaming Introduction
• Rating Platforms Introduction
• Web Design Introduction
• Online Map Services Introduction
• Online Booking Systems Introduction
• Other Introduction
• Explanation of terms used
• Conclusion

Introduction and overview

We have prepared this privacy policy (version 16.01.2025-322341765) in order to explain to you, in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and applicable national laws, which personal data (data for short) we as the controller - and the processors commissioned by us (e.g. providers) - process, will process in the future and what lawful options you have. The terms used are to be understood as gender-neutral.
In short: We provide you with comprehensive information about the data we process about you.

Data protection declarations usually sound very technical and use technical legal terms. This privacy policy, on the other hand, is intended to describe the most important things to you as simply and transparently as possible. Where it is conducive to transparency, technical terms are explained in a reader-friendly way, links to further information are provided and graphics are used. We thus inform you in clear and simple language that we only process personal data as part of our business activities if there is a corresponding legal basis. This is certainly not possible by providing explanations that are as concise, unclear and legally technical as possible, as is often standard on the Internet when it comes to data protection. I hope you find the following explanations interesting and informative and perhaps there is one or two pieces of information that you did not yet know.
If you still have any questions, we would ask you to contact the responsible body named below or in the legal notice, to follow the links provided and to look at further information on third-party sites. Our contact details can of course also be found in the legal notice.

Scope of application

This privacy policy applies to all personal data processed by us in the company and to all personal data processed by companies commissioned by us (processors). By personal data, we mean information within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 1 GDPR, such as a person's name, email address and postal address. The processing of personal data ensures that we can offer and bill our services and products, whether online or offline. The scope of this privacy policy includes

• all online presences (websites, online stores) that we operate
• Social media presences and email communication
• mobile apps for smartphones and other devices

In short, the privacy policy applies to all areas in which personal data is processed in the company in a structured manner via the channels mentioned. If we enter into legal relationships with you outside of these channels, we will inform you separately if necessary.

Legal bases

In the following privacy policy, we provide you with transparent information on the legal principles and regulations, i.e. the legal bases of the General Data Protection Regulation, which enable us to process personal data.
As far as EU law is concerned, we refer to REGULATION (EU) 2016/679 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of April 27, 2016. You can of course read this EU General Data Protection Regulation online at EUR-Lex, the access point to EU law, at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32016R0679.

We only process your data if at least one of the following conditions applies:

1. Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR): You have given us your consent to process data for a specific purpose. An example would be the storage of your data entered in a contact form.
2. Contract (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR): In order to fulfill a contract or pre-contractual obligations with you, we process your data. For example, if we conclude a purchase contract with you, we need personal information in advance.
3. Legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c) GDPR): If we are subject to a legal obligation, we process your data. For example, we are legally obliged to keep invoices for accounting purposes. These usually contain personal data.
4. Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR): In the case of legitimate interests that do not restrict your fundamental rights, we reserve the right to process personal data. For example, we need to process certain data in order to operate our website securely and efficiently. This processing is therefore a legitimate interest.

Other conditions such as the performance of recordings in the public interest and the exercise of official authority as well as the protection of vital interests do not generally apply to us. If such a legal basis is relevant, it will be indicated at the appropriate point.

In addition to the EU Regulation, national laws also apply:

• In Austria, this is the Federal Act on the Protection of Natural Persons with regard to the Processing of PersonalData (Data Protection Act), or DSG for short.
• In Germany, the Federal Data Protection Act( BDSG) applies.

If other regional or national laws apply, we will inform you about them in the following sections.

Contact details of the controller

If you have any questions about data protection or the processing of personal data, you will find below the contact details of the controller in accordance with Article 4(7) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

E-mail: datenschutz@energy-imaging.de

Storage period

It is a general criterion for us that we only store personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. This means that we delete personal data as soon as the reason for the data processing no longer exists. In some cases, we are legally obliged to store certain data even after the original purpose has ceased to exist, for example for accounting purposes.

If you wish your data to be deleted or revoke your consent to data processing, the data will be deleted as quickly as possible, provided there is no obligation to store it.

We will inform you below about the specific duration of the respective data processing if we have further information on this.

Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation

In accordance with Articles 13 and 14 GDPR, we inform you of the following rights to which you are entitled in order to ensure fair and transparent data processing:

• According to Article 15 GDPR, you have a right to information as to whether we process data about you. If this is the case, you have the right to receive a copy of the data and the following information
  • the purpose for which we are processing the data
  • the categories, i.e. the types of data being processed
  • who receives this data and, if the data is transferred to third countries, how security can be guaranteed
  • how long the data will be stored;
  • the existence of the right to rectification, erasure or restriction of processing and the right to object to processing
  • that you can lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (links to these authorities can be found below)
  • the origin of the data if we have not collected it from you
  • whether profiling is carried out, i.e. whether data is automatically analyzed in order to create a personal profile of you.
• According to Article 16 GDPR, you have a right to rectification of data, which means that we must correct data if you find errors.
• According to Article 17 GDPR, you have the right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"), which specifically means that you may request the erasure of your data.
• According to Article 18 GDPR, you have the right to restriction of processing, which means that we may only store the data but not use it any further.
• According to Article 20 GDPR, you have the right to data portability, which means that we will provide you with your data in a commonly used format upon request.
• According to Article 21 GDPR, you have the right to object, which entails a change in processing after enforcement.
  • If the processing of your data is based on Article 6(1)(e) (public interest, exercise of official authority) or Article 6(1)(f) (legitimate interest), you can object to the processing. We will then check as quickly as possible whether we can legally comply with this objection.
  • If data is used for direct marketing purposes, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may then no longer use your data for direct marketing.
  • If data is used for profiling, you can object to this type of data processing at any time. We may then no longer use your data for profiling.
• Under Article 22 GDPR, you may have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing (e.g. profiling).
• According to Article 77 GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint. This means that you can lodge a complaint with the data protection authority at any time if you believe that the processing of personal data violates the GDPR.

In short: you have rights - do not hesitate to contact the controller listed above!

If you believe that the processing of your data violates data protection law or your data protection rights have been violated in any other way, you can complain to the supervisory authority. For Austria, this is the data protection authority, whose website you can find at https://www.dsb.gv.at/. In Germany, there is a data protection officer for each federal state. For more information, you can contact the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI). The following local data protection authority is responsible for our company:

North Rhine-Westphalia Data Protection Authority

State Commissioner for Data Protection: Bettina Gayk
Address: Kavalleriestraße 2-4, 40213 Düsseldorf
Telephone number: 02 11/384 24-0
E-mail address: poststelle@ldi.nrw.de
Website: https://www.ldi.nrw.de/

Data transfer to third countries

We only transfer or process data to countries outside the scope of the GDPR (third countries) if you consent to this processing or other legal permission exists. This applies in particular if the processing is required by law or necessary to fulfill a contractual relationship and in any case only to the extent that this is generally permitted. In most cases, your consent is the most important reason why we process data in third countries. The processing of personal data in third countries such as the USA, where many software manufacturers offer services and have their server locations, may mean that personal data is processed and stored in unexpected ways.

We expressly point out that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there is currently only an adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA if a US company that processes personal data of EU citizens in the USA is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. You can find more information on this at: https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en

Data processing by US services that are not active participants in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework may result in data not being processed and stored anonymously. Furthermore, US government authorities may be able to access individual data. In addition, data collected may be linked to data from other services of the same provider if you have a corresponding user account. Where possible, we try to use server locations within the EU if this is offered.
We will inform you in more detail about data transfer to third countries, if applicable, in the appropriate sections of this privacy policy.

Security of data processing

We have implemented both technical and organizational measures to protect personal data. Where possible, we encrypt or pseudonymize personal data. In this way, we make it as difficult as possible for third parties to infer personal information from our data.

Art. 25 GDPR refers to "data protection by design and by default", meaning that we always think about security and take appropriate measures for both software (e.g. forms) and hardware (e.g. access to the server room). If necessary, we will discuss specific measures below.

TLS encryption with https

TLS, encryption and https sound very technical, and they are. We use HTTPS (the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure stands for "secure hypertext transfer protocol") to transmit data tap-proof on the Internet.
This means that the complete transmission of all data from your browser to our web server is secure - nobody can "listen in".

We have thus introduced an additional layer of security and comply with data protection by design(Article 25(1) GDPR). By using TLS (Transport Layer Security), an encryption protocol for secure data transmission on the Internet, we can ensure the protection of confidential data.
You can recognize the use of this data transmission security by the small lock symbol at the top left of the browser, to the left of the Internet address (e.g. examplepage.com) and the use of the https scheme (instead of http) as part of our Internet address.
If you would like to know more about encryption, we recommend a Google search for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure wiki" to find good links to further information.

Communication

If you contact us and communicate by telephone, e-mail or online form, personal data may be processed.

The data is processed for the handling and processing of your question and the associated business transaction. The data will be stored for as long as required by law.

Affected persons

All those who contact us via the communication channels provided by us are affected by the aforementioned processes.

Telephone

When you call us, the call data is stored pseudonymously on the respective end device and with the telecommunications provider used. In addition, data such as name and telephone number may subsequently be sent by e-mail and stored for the purpose of responding to inquiries. The data will be deleted as soon as the business case has been completed and legal requirements permit.

E-mail

If you communicate with us by email, data may be stored on the respective end device (computer, laptop, smartphone, etc.) and data may be stored on the email server. The data will be deleted as soon as the business transaction has been completed and legal requirements permit.

Online forms

If you communicate with us using an online form, data is stored on our web server and may be forwarded to one of our e-mail addresses. The data will be deleted as soon as the business transaction has been completed and legal requirements permit.

Legal basis

The processing of data is based on the following legal bases:

• Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent): You give us your consent to store your data and to continue to use it for purposes relating to the business transaction;
• Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contract): It is necessary for the performance of a contract with you or a processor, such as the telephone provider, or we need to process the data for pre-contractual activities, such as the preparation of an offer;
• Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests): We want to handle customer inquiries and business communication in a professional manner. This requires certain technical facilities such as email programs, exchange servers and mobile network operators in order to operate communication efficiently.

Data processing agreement (DPA)

In this section, we would like to explain what an order processing contract is and why it is needed. Because the word "data processing agreement" is a bit of a mouthful, we will often only use the acronym DPA in this text. Like most companies, we do not work alone, but also use the services of other companies or individuals. By involving various companies or service providers, we may pass on personal data for processing. These partners then act as processors with whom we conclude a contract, the so-called data processing agreement (DPA). The most important thing for you to know is that the processing of your personal data takes place exclusively in accordance with our instructions and must be regulated by the DPA.

Who are processors?

As a company and website owner, we are responsible for all data that we process from you. In addition to controllers, there may also be so-called processors. This includes any company or person who processes personal data on our behalf. More precisely and according to the GDPR definition: any natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on our behalf is considered a processor. Processors can therefore be service providers such as hosting or cloud providers, payment or newsletter providers or large companies such as Google or Microsoft.

To make the terminology easier to understand, here is an overview of the three roles in the GDPR:

Data subject(you as a customer or interested party) → Controller (we as a company and client) → Processors (service providers such as web hosts or cloud providers)

Content of an order processing contract

As mentioned above, we have concluded a DPA with our partners who act as processors. This states above all that the processor processes the data to be processed exclusively in accordance with the GDPR. The contract must be concluded in writing, although the electronic conclusion of the contract is also considered "written" in this context. The processing of personal data only takes place on the basis of the contract. The contract must contain the following:

• Commitment to us as the controller
• Obligations and rights of the controller
• Categories of data subjects
• Type of personal data
• Type and purpose of data processing
• Subject and duration of data processing
• Place of data processing

The contract also contains all the obligations of the processor. The most important obligations are

• to ensure data security measures
• to take possible technical and organizational measures to protect the rights of the data subject
• to maintain a data processing directory
• cooperate with the data protection supervisory authority at its request
• carry out a risk analysis in relation to the personal data received
• Sub-processors may only be commissioned with the written consent of the controller

You can see what such a DPA looks like in concrete terms at https://www.wko.at/service/wirtschaftsrecht-gewerberecht/eu-dsgvo-mustervertrag-auftragsverarbeitung.html, for example. A sample contract is presented here.

Cookies

What are cookies?

Our website uses HTTP cookies to store user-specific data.
Below we explain what cookies are and why they are used so that you can better understand the following privacy policy.

Whenever you surf the internet, you use a browser. Well-known browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge. Most websites store small text files in your browser. These files are called cookies.

One thing cannot be denied: Cookies are really useful little helpers. Almost all websites use cookies. More precisely, they are HTTP cookies, as there are also other cookies for other areas of application. HTTP cookies are small files that are stored on your computer by our website. These cookie files are automatically stored in the cookie folder, the "brain" of your browser, so to speak. A cookie consists of a name and a value. When defining a cookie, one or more attributes must also be specified.

Cookies store certain user data about you, such as language or personal page settings. When you visit our site again, your browser transmits the "user-related" information back to our site. Thanks to cookies, our website knows who you are and offers you the settings you are used to. In some browsers, each cookie has its own file; in others, such as Firefox, all cookies are stored in a single file.

The following graphic shows a possible interaction between a web browser such as Chrome and the web server. The web browser requests a website and receives a cookie back from the server, which the browser uses again as soon as another page is requested.

There are both first-party cookies and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created directly by our website, third-party cookies are created by partner websites (e.g. Google Analytics). Each cookie must be evaluated individually, as each cookie stores different data. The expiry time of a cookie also varies from a few minutes to a few years. Cookies are not software programs and do not contain viruses, Trojans or other "malware". Cookies also cannot access information on your PC.

This is what cookie data can look like, for example:

Name: _ga
Wert: GA1.2.1326744211.152322341765-9
Purpose: Differentiation of website visitors
Expiration date: after 2 years

A browser should be able to support these minimum sizes:

• At least 4096 bytes per cookie
• At least 50 cookies per domain
• At least 3000 cookies in total

What types of cookies are there?

The question of which cookies we use in particular depends on the services used and is clarified in the following sections of the privacy policy. At this point, we would like to briefly explain the different types of HTTP cookies.

There are 4 different types of cookies:

Essential cookies

These cookies are necessary to ensure basic website functions. For example, these cookies are needed when a user places a product in the shopping cart, then continues surfing on other pages and only goes to the checkout later. These cookies ensure that the shopping cart is not deleted even if the user closes their browser window.

Purposeful cookies

These cookies collect information about user behavior and whether the user receives any error messages. These cookies are also used to measure the loading time and the behavior of the website with different browsers.

Targeted cookies

These cookies ensure better user-friendliness. For example, entered locations, font sizes or form data are saved.

Advertising cookies

These cookies are also known as targeting cookies. They are used to deliver customized advertising to the user. This can be very practical, but also very annoying.

When you visit a website for the first time, you are usually asked which of these types of cookie you would like to allow. And of course this decision is also saved in a cookie.

If you want to know more about cookies and are not afraid of technical documentation, we recommend https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6265, the Request for Comments of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) called "HTTP State Management Mechanism".

Purpose of processing via cookies

The purpose ultimately depends on the cookie in question. You can find more details on this below or from the manufacturer of the software that sets the cookie.

What data is processed?

Cookies are little helpers for many different tasks. Unfortunately, it is not possible to generalize which data is stored in cookies, but we will inform you about the processed or stored data in the following privacy policy.

Storage duration of cookies

The storage period depends on the cookie in question and is specified below. Some cookies are deleted after less than an hour, others can remain stored on a computer for several years.

You can also influence the storage period yourself. You can delete all cookies manually at any time via your browser (see also "Right to object" below). Furthermore, cookies that are based on consent will be deleted at the latest after you withdraw your consent, whereby the legality of the storage until then remains unaffected.

Right to object - how can I delete cookies?

You decide how and whether you want to use cookies. Regardless of which service or website the cookies originate from, you always have the option of deleting, deactivating or only partially accepting cookies. For example, you can block third-party cookies but allow all other cookies.

If you want to find out which cookies have been stored in your browser, if you want to change or delete cookie settings, you can find this in your browser settings:

Chrome: Delete, enable and manage cookies in Chrome

Safari: Manage cookies and website data with Safari

Firefox: Delete cookies to remove data that websites have stored on your computer

Internet Explorer: Delete and manage cookies

Microsoft Edge: Delete and manage cookies

If you do not want any cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. You can then decide for each individual cookie whether or not to allow it. The procedure differs depending on the browser. It is best to search for the instructions in Google using the search term "delete cookies Chrome" or "deactivate cookies Chrome" in the case of a Chrome browser.

Legal basis

The so-called "cookie guidelines" have been in place since 2009. This states that the storage of cookies requires your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). However, there are still very different reactions to these directives within the EU countries. In Austria, however, this directive was implemented in Section 165 (3) of the Telecommunications Act (2021). In Germany, the cookie directives have not been implemented as national law. Instead, this directive was largely implemented in Section 15 (3) of the Telemedia Act (TMG), which has been replaced by the Digital Services Act (DDG) since May 2024.

For strictly necessary cookies, even if no consent has been given, there are legitimate interests (Article 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR), which in most cases are of an economic nature. We want to provide visitors to the website with a pleasant user experience and certain cookies are often absolutely necessary for this.

If cookies that are not absolutely necessary are used, this is only done with your consent. The legal basis in this respect is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

In the following sections, you will be informed in more detail about the use of cookies if the software used uses cookies.

Application data

What is application data?

You can apply to us for a job in our company by e-mail, online form or via a recruiting tool. All data that we receive and process from you as part of an application is considered application data. You always disclose personal data such as your name, date of birth, address and telephone number.

Why do we process application data?

We process your data so that we can carry out a proper selection process in relation to the advertised position. We are also happy to keep your application documents in our application archive. This is because it often happens that, for a variety of reasons, we are not able to work with you for the advertised positions, but we are impressed by you and your application and can very well imagine working with you in the future. If you give us your consent, we will archive your documents so that we can easily contact you for future jobs in our company.

We guarantee that we will handle your data with particular care and will only ever process your data within the legal framework. Even within our company, your data will only be passed on to people who are directly involved with your application. In short: Your data is safe with us!

What data is processed?

If you apply to us by e-mail, for example, we will of course also receive personal data, as mentioned above. Even your e-mail address is considered personal data. However, only the data that is relevant to our decision as to whether or not we want to welcome you to our team is processed in the course of an application process.

Exactly which data is processed depends primarily on the job advertisement. In most cases, however, it will be your name, date of birth, contact details and proof of qualifications. If you submit your application via an online form, the data will be encrypted and forwarded to us. If you send us the application by e-mail, this encryption does not take place. We can therefore accept no responsibility for the transmission method. However, once the data is on our servers, we are responsible for the lawful handling of your data.

During an application process, in addition to the above-mentioned data, information about your health or ethnic origin may also be requested so that we and you can exercise the rights relating to labor law, social security and social protection and at the same time comply with the corresponding obligations. This data is special category data.

Here is a list of possible data that we receive and process from you:

• Name
• Contact address
• e-mail address
• telephone number
• Date of birth
• Information from cover letter and CV
• Proof of qualifications (e.g. certificates)
• Special category data (e.g. ethnic origin, health data, religious beliefs)
• Usage data (websites visited, access data, etc.)
• Metadata (IP address, device information)

How long is the data stored?

If we accept you as a team member in our company, your data will be processed for the purpose of the employment relationship and stored by us at least until the employment relationship ends. All application documents will then be placed in your employee file.

If we do not offer you the job, you reject our offer or withdraw your application, we may retain your data for up to 6 months after completion of the application process on the basis of legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). After that, both your electronic data and all data from physical application documents will be completely deleted or destroyed. We retain your data so that we can answer any follow-up questions or so that we can provide evidence of the application in the event of a legal dispute. If a legal dispute arises and we may still need the data after the 6 months have expired, we will only delete the data when there is no longer any reason to retain it. If there are statutory retention obligations to be fulfilled, we must generally store the data for longer than 6 months.

We may also store your data for longer if you have given your special consent. We do this, for example, if we can imagine working with you in the future. It is then helpful to have your data archived so that we can contact you easily. In this case, the data will be added to our applicant pool. Of course, you can revoke your consent to the longer storage of your data at any time. If you do not withdraw your consent and do not give any new consent, your data will be deleted after 2 years at the latest.

Legal basis

The legal basis for the processing of your data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contract or pre-contractual measures), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests) and Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a. GDPR (processing of special categories).

If we include you in our applicant tool, this is done on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). We would like to point out that your consent to our application pool is voluntary, has no influence on the application process and you have the option of withdrawing your consent at any time. The lawfulness of the processing up to the time of withdrawal remains unaffected.

In the case of the protection of vital interests, data processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 9 para. 2 lit. c. GDPR. For the purposes of health care, occupational medicine, medical diagnostics, health or social care or treatment or for the management of health or social care systems and services, the processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h. GDPR. If you voluntarily provide data of special categories, the processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a. GDPR.

Customer data

What is customer data?

We also process the data of our customers and business partners so that we can offer our services and contractual services. This data always includes personal data. Customer data is all information that is processed on the basis of a contractual or pre-contractual cooperation in order to be able to provide the services offered. Customer data is therefore all the information we collect and process about our customers.

Why do we process customer data?

There are many reasons why we collect and process customer data. The most important is that we simply need various data to provide our services. Sometimes your e-mail address is enough, but if you purchase a product or service, for example, we also need data such as your name, address, bank details or contract data. We subsequently also use the data for marketing and sales optimization so that we can improve our overall service for our customers. Another important point is our customer service, which is always very important to us. We want you to be able to contact us at any time with questions about our offers, and for this we need at least your e-mail address.

What data is processed?

The exact data that is stored can only be described here in categories. This always depends on which services you receive from us. In some cases, you only give us your e-mail address so that we can contact you or answer your questions, for example. In other cases, you purchase a product or service from us and we require significantly more information, such as your contact details, payment details and contract details.

Here is a list of possible data that we receive and process from you:

• Name
• contact address
• e-mail address
• telephone number
• Date of birth
• Payment data (invoices, bank details, payment history, etc.)
• Contract data (term, content)
• Usage data (websites visited, access data, etc.)
• Metadata (IP address, device information)

How long is the data stored?

As soon as we no longer need the customer data to fulfill our contractual obligations and our purposes and the data is also no longer required for possible warranty and liability obligations, we delete the corresponding customer data. This is the case, for example, when a business contract ends. After this, the limitation period is generally 3 years, although longer periods are possible in individual cases. Of course, we also comply with the statutory retention obligations. Your customer data will certainly not be passed on to third parties unless you have given your explicit consent.

Legal basis

The legal basis for the processing of your data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contract or pre-contractual measures), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests) and in special cases (e.g. for medical services) Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a. GDPR (processing of special categories).

In the case of the protection of vital interests, data processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 9 para. 2 lit. c. GDPR. For the purposes of health care, occupational medicine, medical diagnosis, health or social care or treatment or for the management of health or social care systems and services, the processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h. GDPR. GDPR. If you voluntarily provide data of special categories, the processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a. GDPR.

Registration

When you register with us, personal data may be processed if you enter personal data or data such as the IP address is collected in the course of processing. You can read below what we mean by the rather unwieldy term "personal data".

Please only enter data that we require for registration and for which you have the approval of a third party if you are registering on behalf of a third party. If possible, use a secure password that you do not use anywhere else and an e-mail address that you check regularly.

In the following we will inform you about the exact type of data processing, because we want you to feel comfortable with us!

What is registration?

When you register, we collect certain data from you and enable you to log in to us online later and use your account with us. The advantage of having an account with us is that you don't have to re-enter everything every time. Saves time, effort and ultimately prevents errors in the provision of our services.

Why do we process personal data?

In short, we process personal data to enable you to create and use an account with us.

If we didn't do this, you would have to enter all the data every time, wait for us to approve it and enter it all again. We and many, many customers would not like that. What would you think?

What data is processed?

All the data that you entered during registration, when you logged in or when managing your data in your account.

We process the following types of data during registration:

• First name
• Surname
• e-mail address
• Company name
• Street + house number
• Place of residence
• Postal code
• Country

When you log in, we process the data you enter when you register, such as your user name and password, and data collected in the background, such as device information and IP addresses.

When you use your account, we process data that you enter when you use your account and that is generated when you use our services.

Storage duration

We store the data entered for at least as long as the account linked to the data exists with us and is used, as long as contractual obligations exist between us and, if the contract ends, until the respective claims arising from it have expired. In addition, we store your data for as long as and to the extent that we are subject to statutory storage obligations. Thereafter, we retain accounting documents relating to the contract (invoices, contract documents, account statements, etc.) and other relevant business documents for the legally prescribed period (usually several years).

Right of objection

You have registered, entered data and would like to revoke the processing? No problem. As you can read above, the rights under the General Data Protection Regulation also apply during and after registration, login or account with us. Contact the person responsible for data protection above to exercise your rights. If you already have an account with us, you can easily view and manage your data and texts in your account.

Legal basis

By completing the registration process, you are entering into a pre-contractual relationship with us in order to conclude a contract of use via our platform (even if there is no automatic obligation to pay). Youinvest time to enter data and register and we offer you our services after logging into our system and viewing your customer account. We also fulfill our contractual obligations. Finally, we need to keep registered users informed of important changes by email. Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (implementation of pre-contractual measures, performance of a contract) therefore applies.

If necessary, we may also obtain your consent, e.g. if you voluntarily provide more data than is absolutely necessary or if we are allowed to send you advertising. Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent) therefore applies.

We also have a legitimate interest in knowing who we are dealing with in order to contact you in certain cases. We also need to know who uses our services and whether they are used in accordance with our terms of use, so Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests) applies.

Note: the following sections are to be ticked by users (as required):

Registration with clear name

As we need to know who we are dealing with in our business operations, registration is only possible with your real name (clear name) and not with pseudonyms.

Registration with pseudonyms

Pseudonyms can be used for registration, i.e. you do not have to register with your real name. This ensures that your name cannot be processed by us.

Storage of the IP address

In the course of registration, login and account use, we store the IP address in the background for security reasons in order to be able to determine lawful use.

Public profile

The user profiles are publicly visible, i.e. parts of the profile can also be viewed on the Internet without entering a user name and password.

2-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) offers additional security when logging in, as it prevents you from logging in without a smartphone, for example. This technical measure to secure your account therefore protects you against the loss of data or unauthorized access even if the user name and password were known. You can find out which 2FA is used during registration, login and in the account itself.

Web hosting introduction

What is web hosting?

When you visit websites these days, certain information - including personal data - is automatically created and stored, including on this website. This data should be processed as sparingly as possible and only with justification. By website, by the way, we mean the entirety of all web pages on a domain, i.e. everything from the start page (homepage) to the very last subpage (like this one). By domain we mean, for example, example.de or example.com.

If you want to view a website on a computer, tablet or smartphone, you use a program called a web browser. You probably know some web browsers by name: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari. We call them browsers or web browsers for short.

To display the website, the browser must connect to another computer where the website's code is stored: the web server. Operating a web server is a complicated and time-consuming task, which is why this is usually done by professional providers. They offer web hosting and thus ensure reliable and error-free storage of website data. A lot of technical terms, but please stay tuned, it will get even better!

When the browser on your computer (desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone) connects and during data transfer to and from the web server, personal data may be processed. On the one hand, your computer stores data; on the other hand, the web server must also store data for a period of time to ensure proper operation.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so the following graphic illustrates the interaction between the browser, the internet and the hosting provider.

Why do we process personal data?

The purposes of data processing are:

1. Professional hosting of the website and securing its operation
2. to maintain operational and IT security
3. Anonymous evaluation of access behavior to improve our offer and, if necessary, for criminal prosecution or prosecution of claims

What data is processed?

Even while you are currently visiting our website, our web server, i.e. the computer on which this website is stored, generally automatically saves data such as

• the complete Internet address (URL) of the website accessed
• browser and browser version (e.g. Chrome 87)
• the operating system used (e.g. Windows 10)
• the address (URL) of the previously visited page (referrer URL) (e.g. https://www. beispielquellsite.de/vondabinichgekommen/)
• the host name and IP address of the device from which access is made (e.g. COMPUTERNAME and 194.23.43.121)
• date and time
• in files, the so-called web server log files

How long is data stored?

As a rule, the above-mentioned data is stored for two weeks and then automatically deleted. We do not pass this data on, but we cannot rule out the possibility of this data being viewed by authorities in the event of unlawful behavior.

In short: Your visit is logged by our provider (company that runs our website on special computers (servers)), but we do not pass on your data without your consent!

Legal basis

The lawfulness of the processing of personal data in the context of web hosting results from Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (protection of legitimate interests), because the use of professional hosting with a provider is necessary in order to present the company on the Internet in a secure and user-friendly manner and to be able to pursue attacks and claims from this if necessary.

There is usually a contract between us and the hosting provider for order processing in accordance with Art. 28 f. GDPR, which ensures compliance with data protection and guarantees data security.

1&1 IONOS Webhosting Privacy Policy

What is 1&1 IONOS web hosting?

To host our website, we use the web hosting services of the company IONOS by 1&1. In Germany, 1&1 IONOS SE is based at Elgendorfer Str. 57 in 56410 Montabaur. In Austria, you can find 1&1 IONOS SE at Gumpendorfer Straße 142/PF 266 in 1060 Vienna.

IONOS offers the following web hosting services: Domain, Website & Shop, Hosting & WordPress, Marketing, E-Mail & Office, IONOS Cloud and Server. With over 22 million domains, almost 9 million customer contracts and 100,000 servers, IONOS is one of Germany's biggest names in web hosting.
We have already mentioned it in our introductory words on the subject of web hosting: hosting also means that data about you or your end device is stored on the IONOS servers. First and foremost, your IP address, which is known to be personal data, is stored. In addition, technical data such as the URL of our website, the name of your internet browser or which operating system you are using is also stored.

Why do we use 1&1 IONOS web hosting?

IONOS was founded in Germany back in 1988 and therefore has over 30 years of experience under its belt. However, this does not mean that the company is not constantly evolving in terms of technology. It is precisely this combination of experience and innovative spirit that we believe provides a good basis for our website. After all, we want our website to function smoothly 24 hours a day and guarantee a high level of security. As IONOS does not limit the monthly data traffic and provides plenty of storage space, our website remains powerful even with many visitors. We are very satisfied with the speed of the website and the price-performance ratio currently meets our requirements.

What data is processed by 1&1 IONOS Webhosting?

1&1 IONOS Webhosting may also process personal data about you. When you visit our website, the following data about you or your computer is stored by IONOS:

• the previously visited website (also called referrer)
• the requested website (in this case, our website)
• Browser type and browser version
• The operating system you are using and your device type
• Time of the page access
• Your IP address in anonymized form

The data collected is used to increase the security of the website, to detect possible errors and also to carry out anonymous statistical analyses. According to IONOS, the anonymized IP address is only used to determine the location of access.

How long and where is the data stored?

The data is stored on IONOS' own servers. In principle, IONOS stores the data for as long as is necessary to fulfill its obligations. Visitor data is stored for 8 weeks. However, data may also be stored for longer, for example to provide evidence for possible legal disputes. Visitor data is not passed on to third parties and is not transferred to a country outside the EU.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

You have the right to information, correction or deletion and restriction of the processing of your personal data at any time. You can also withdraw your consent to the processing of your data at any time.

If you want to deactivate, delete or manage cookies, you will find the relevant links to the instructions for the most popular browsers in the "Cookies" section.

Legal basis

We have a legitimate interest in using IONOS in order to be able to offer our online service. Professional hosting with a provider is necessary in order to present our company on the Internet in a secure and user-friendly manner and to be able to track possible cyber attacks. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests).

You can find much more information about data protection at IONOS in the privacy policy at https://www.ionos.de/terms-gtc/datenschutzerklaerung/. If you have any further questions about data protection, you can also contact the IONOS data protection team by email at datenschutz@ionos.de.

Data processing agreement (DPA) IONOS

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with IONOS in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, in particular, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because IONOS processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that IONOS may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://www.ionos.de/hilfe/datenschutz/allgemeine-informationen-zur-datenschutz-grundverordnung-dsgvo/auftragsverarbeitung/.

Mittwald privacy policy

We use Mittwald, a web hosting tool, for our website. The service provider is the German company Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co KG, Königsberger Straße 4-6, 32339 Espelkamp, Germany.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Mittwald in the privacy policy at https://www.mittwald.de/datenschutz.

Order processing contract (AVV) Mittwald

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with Mittwald in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because Mittwald processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that Mittwald may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://www.mittwald.de/faq/service-informationen/faq/datenschutz-alles-wichtige-zur-dsgvo.

United Domains privacy policy

We use United Domains, a web hosting provider, for our website. The service provider is the German company united-domains AG, Gautinger Straße 10, 82319 Starnberg, Germany.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of United Domains in the privacy policy at https://www.united-domains.de/unternehmen/datenschutz/.

Data processing agreement (DPA) United Domains

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with United Domains in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because United Domains processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that United Domains may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://www.united-domains.de/help/faq-article/wie-erhalte-ich-den-auftragsverarbeitungs-vertrag-avv-nach-dsgvo.

Web analytics introduction

What is web analytics?

We use software on our website to evaluate the behavior of website visitors, known as web analytics or web analysis for short. This involves collecting data that is stored, managed and processed by the respective analytics tool provider (also known as a tracking tool). The data is used to create analyses of user behavior on our website and made available to us as the website operator. In addition, most tools offer various test options. For example, we can test which offers or content are best received by our visitors. To do this, we show you two different offers for a limited period of time. After the test (known as an A/B test), we know which product or content our website visitors find more interesting. For such test procedures, as well as for other analytics procedures, user profiles can also be created and the data stored in cookies.

Why do we use web analytics?

We have a clear goal for our website: we want to deliver the best web offering on the market for our industry. In order to achieve this goal, we want to offer the best and most interesting services on the one hand and ensure that you feel completely at ease on our website on the other. With the help of web analysis tools, we can take a closer look at the behavior of our website visitors and then improve our website accordingly for you and for us. For example, we can see how old our visitors are on average, where they come from, when our website is visited the most or which content or products are particularly popular. All this information helps us to optimize the website and thus adapt it to your needs, interests and wishes.

What data is processed?

Exactly what data is stored depends, of course, on the analysis tools used. But as a rule, for example, the content you view on our website, which buttons or links you click on, when you access a page, which browser you use, which device (PC, tablet, smartphone, etc.) you use to visit the website or which computer system you use is stored. If you have agreed that location data may also be collected, this may also be processed by the web analysis tool provider.

Your IP address is also stored. According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), IP addresses are personal data. However, your IP address is usually stored pseudonymized (i.e. in an unrecognizable and shortened form). For the purpose of testing, web analysis and web optimization, no direct data such as your name, age, address or e-mail address is stored. All this data, if collected, is stored in pseudonymized form. This means that you cannot be identified as a person.

The following example shows schematically how Google Analytics works as an example of client-based web tracking with Java Script code.

How long the respective data is stored always depends on the provider. Some cookies only store data for a few minutes or until you leave the website, while other cookies can store data for several years.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. If required by law, for example in the case of accounting, this storage period may also be exceeded.

Right to object

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.

Legal basis

The use of web analytics requires your consent, which we have obtained with our cookie pop-up. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when data is collected by web analytics tools.

In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in analyzing the behavior of website visitors in order to improve our offer technically and economically. With the help of web analytics, we can detect errors on the website, identify attacks and improve efficiency. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use the tools if you have given your consent.

Since web analytics tools use cookies, we recommend that you also read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Information on specific web analytics tools, if available, can be found in the following sections.

Google Analytics privacy policy

What is Google Analytics?

On our website, we use the analysis tracking tool Google Analytics in the version Google Analytics 4 (GA4) of the American company Google Inc. For the European area, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services. Google Analytics collects data about your actions on our website. However, by combining various technologies such as cookies, device IDs and login information, you can be identified as a user across different devices. This means that your actions can also be analyzed across platforms.

For example, when you click on a link, this event is stored in a cookie and sent to Google Analytics. The reports we receive from Google Analytics allow us to better tailor our website and our service to your needs. In the following, we will go into more detail about the tracking tool and inform you in particular about which data is processed and how you can prevent this.

Google Analytics is a tracking tool that is used to analyze data traffic on our website. These measurements and analyses are based on a pseudonymous user identification number. This number does not contain any personal data such as name or address, but is used to assign events to an end device. GA4 uses an event-based model that records detailed information on user interactions such as page views, clicks, scrolling and conversion events. GA4 also incorporates various machine learning functions to better understand user behavior and certain trends. GA4 relies on modeling with the help of machine learning functions. This means that missing data can also be extrapolated on the basis of the collected data in order to optimize the analysis and also to be able to make forecasts.

For Google Analytics to work in principle, a tracking code is integrated into the code of our website. When you visit our website, this code records various events that you carry out on our website. With GA4's event-based data model, we as website operators can define and track specific events in order to obtain analyses of user interactions. In addition to general information such as clicks or page views, specific events that are important for our business can also be tracked. Such specific events can be, for example, the sending of a contact form or the purchase of a product.

As soon as you leave our website, this data is sent to the Google Analytics servers and stored there.

Google processes the data and we receive reports on your user behavior. These may include the following reports:

• Target group reports: we use target group reports to get to know our users better and know more precisely who is interested in our service.
• Ad reports: Ad reports make it easier for us to analyze and improve our online advertising.
• Acquisition reports: Acquisition reports provide us with helpful information on how we can get more people interested in our service.
• Behavioral reports: This tells us how you interact with our website. We can see which path you take on our site and which links you click on.
• Conversion reports: Conversion is a process in which you perform a desired action based on a marketing message. For example, when you convert from a mere website visitor to a buyer or newsletter subscriber. With the help of these reports, we learn more about how our marketing measures are received by you. This is how we want to increase our conversion rate.
• Real-time reports: Here we always know immediately what is happening on our website. For example, we can see how many users are currently reading this text.

In addition to the analysis reports mentioned above, Google Analytics 4 also offers the following functions, among others:

• Event-based data model: this model captures very specific events that can take place on our website. For example, playing a video, purchasing a product or subscribing to our newsletter.
• Advanced analytics: These functions allow us to understand your behavior on our website or certain general trends even better. For example, we can segment user groups, carry out comparative analyses of target groups or track your path on our website.
• Predictive modeling: Based on collected data, missing data can be extrapolated through machine learning to predict future events and trends. This can help us to develop better marketing strategies.
• Cross-platform analysis: Data can be collected and analyzed from both websites and apps. This gives us the opportunity to analyze user behavior across platforms, provided you have of course consented to data processing.

Why do we use Google Analytics on our website?

Our aim with this website is clear: we want to offer you the best possible service. The statistics and data from Google Analytics help us to achieve this goal.

The statistically analyzed data gives us a clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of our website. On the one hand, we can optimize our site so that it can be found more easily by interested people on Google. On the other hand, the data helps us to better understand you as a visitor. We therefore know exactly what we need to improve on our website in order to offer you the best possible service. The data also helps us to carry out our advertising and marketing measures more individually and cost-effectively. After all, it only makes sense to show our products and services to people who are interested in them.

What data is stored by Google Analytics?

Google Analytics uses a tracking code to create a random, unique ID that is linked to your browser cookie. This is how Google Analytics recognizes you as a new user and you are assigned a user ID. The next time you visit our site, you will be recognized as a "returning" user. All collected data is stored together with this user ID. This makes it possible to evaluate pseudonymous user profiles.

In order to be able to analyze our website with Google Analytics, a property ID must be inserted into the tracking code. The data is then stored in the corresponding property. The Google Analytics 4 property is standard for every newly created property. Depending on the property used, data is stored for different lengths of time.

Through identifiers such as cookies, app instance IDs, user IDs or user-defined event parameters, your interactions are measured across platforms if you have given your consent. Interactions are all types of actions that you perform on our website. If you also use other Google systems (such as a Google account), data generated via Google Analytics may be linked to third-party cookies. Google does not pass on any Google Analytics data unless we as the website operator authorize this. Exceptions may be made if required by law.

According to Google, no IP addresses are logged or stored in Google Analytics 4. However, Google uses the IP address data to derive location data and deletes it immediately afterwards. All IP addresses collected from users in the EU are therefore deleted before the data is stored in a data center or on a server.

Since Google Analytics 4 focuses on event-based data, the tool uses significantly fewer cookies compared to previous versions (such as Google Universal Analytics). Nevertheless, there are some specific cookies that are used by GA4. These include, for example:

Name: _ga
Wert: 2.1326744211.152322341765-5
Purpose: By default, analytics.js uses the _ga cookie to store the user ID. It is generally used to differentiate between website visitors.
Expiration date: after 2 years

Name: _gid
Wert: 2.1687193234.152322341765-1
Purpose: The cookie is also used to distinguish website visitors
Expiration date: after 24 hours

Name: _gat_gtag_UA_<property-id>
Value: 1
Purpose: Used to reduce the request rate. If Google Analytics is provided via the Google Tag Manager, this cookie is given the name _dc_gtm_ <property-id>.
Expiration date: after 1 minute

Note: This list cannot claim to be exhaustive, as Google changes its choice of cookies from time to time. The aim of GA4 is also to improve data protection. The tool therefore offers a number of options for controlling data collection. For example, we can set the storage duration ourselves and also control data collection.

Here we show you an overview of the most important types of data collected with Google Analytics:

Heatmaps: Google creates so-called heatmaps. Heatmaps allow you to see exactly those areas that you click on. This gives us information about where you are "traveling" on our site.

Session duration: Google defines session duration as the time you spend on our site without leaving it. If you have been inactive for 20 minutes, the session ends automatically.

Bounce rate: A bounce is when you only view one page on our website and then leave our website again.

Account creation: When you create an account on our website or place an order, Google Analytics collects this data.

Location: IP addresses are not logged or stored in Google Analytics. However, shortly before the IP address is deleted, derivations are used for location data.

Technical information: Technical information includes your browser type, your internet provider or your screen resolution.

Source of origin: Google Analytics and we are of course also interested in which website or which advertisement you came to our site from.

Other data includes contact details, any ratings, playing media (e.g. when you play a video on our site), sharing content via social media or adding it to your favorites. The list is not exhaustive and is only intended to provide a general overview of data storage by Google Analytics.

How long and where is the data stored?

Google has servers all over the world. You can find out exactly where the Google data centers are located here: https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/locations/?hl=de

Your data is distributed on various physical data carriers. This has the advantage that the data can be accessed more quickly and is better protected against manipulation. There are appropriate emergency programs for your data in every Google data center. If, for example, the hardware at Google fails or natural disasters paralyze servers, the risk of a service interruption at Google remains low.

The retention period of the data depends on the properties used. The storage period is always defined separately for each individual property. Google Analytics offers us four options to control the storage period:

• 2 months: this is the shortest storage period.
• 14 months: by default, GA4 stores the data for 14 months.
• 26 months: the data can also be stored for 26 months.
• Data is only deleted when we delete it manually

In addition, there is also the option that data will only be deleted if you no longer visit our website within the period we have selected. In this case, the retention period is reset each time you visit our website again within the specified period.

Once the specified period has expired, the data will be deleted once a month. This retention period applies to your data linked to cookies, user recognition and advertising IDs (e.g. DoubleClick domain cookies). Reporting results are based on aggregated data and are stored independently of user data. Aggregated data is an amalgamation of individual data into a larger unit.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

Under European Union data protection law, you have the right to obtain information about your data and to update, delete or restrict it. You can use the browser add-on to deactivate Google Analytics JavaScript (analytics.js, gtag.js) to prevent Google Analytics 4 from using your data. You can download and install the browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de. Please note that this add-on only deactivates data collection by Google Analytics.

If you generally want to deactivate, delete or manage cookies, you will find the corresponding links to the respective instructions for the most popular browsers under the "Cookies" section.

Legal basis

The use of Google Analytics requires your consent, which we have obtained with our cookie pop-up. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data as it may occur when collected by web analytics tools.

In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in analyzing the behavior of website visitors in order to improve our website technically and economically. With the help of Google Analytics, we can detect errors on the website, identify attacks and improve efficiency. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use Google Analytics if you have given your consent.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.

We hope we have been able to provide you with the most important information about data processing by Google Analytics. If you would like to find out more about the tracking service, we recommend these two links: https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/de/ and https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

If you want to find out more about data processing, use the Google privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Data processing agreement (DPA) Google Analytics

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with Google in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because Google processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that Google may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the order data processing conditions at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

Google Analytics reports on demographic characteristics and interests

We have activated the functions for advertising reports in Google Analytics. The reports on demographic characteristics and interests contain information on age, gender and interests. This allows us to get a better picture of our users without being able to assign this data to individual persons. You can find out more about the advertising functions athttps://support.google.com/analytics/answer/3450482?hl=de_AT&utm_id=ad.

You can stop the use of the activities and information of your Google account under "Settings for advertising" at https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated via a checkbox.

Google Analytics IP anonymization

We have implemented the IP address anonymization of Google Analytics on this website. This function was developed by Google so that this website can comply with the applicable data protection regulations and recommendations of the local data protection authorities if they prohibit the storage of the full IP address. The anonymization or masking of the IP takes place as soon as the IP addresses arrive in the Google Analytics data collection network and before any storage or processing of the data takes place.

You can find more information on IP anonymization athttps://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2763052?hl=de.

IONOS WebAnalytics privacy policy

What is IONOS WebAnalytics?

We use the analysis tool IONOS WebAnalytics from the German company 1&1 IONOS SE, Elgendorfer Straße 57, 56410 Montabaur, Germany on our website. The tool helps us to analyze our website and data is also collected and stored for this purpose. However, this tool does not collect data that could identify you as a person. Nevertheless, we would like to inform you in more detail about data processing and storage in this privacy policy and also explain why we use IONOS WebAnalytics.

IONOS WebAnalytics is, as the name suggests, a tool that is used to analyze our website. The software program collects data about how long you spend on our website, which buttons you click or from which other website you found us. This gives us a good overview of user behavior on our website. All this information is anonymous. This means that we do not use this data to identify you as a person, but only to obtain general usage information and statistics.

Why do we use IONOS WebAnalytics on our website?

Our aim is to offer you the best possible experience on our website. We believe in what we offer and want our website to be a helpful and useful place for you. To achieve this, we need to customize our website as much as possible to your wishes and concerns. With a web analysis tool such as IONOS WebAnalytics and the resulting data, we can improve our website to this end. The data can also help us to customize advertising and marketing measures. With all these web analyses, however, the protection of personal data is important to us. Unlike other analysis tools, IONOS WebAnalytics does not store and process any data that could identify you as a person.

What data is stored by IONOS WebAnalytics?

The data is collected and stored using log files or a so-called pixel. A pixel is a snippet of JavaScript code that loads a collection of functions that can be used to track user behavior. WebAnalytics deliberately refrains from using cookies.

IONOS does not store any of your personal data. When you submit a page request, your IP address is transmitted, but then immediately anonymized and processed in such a way that you cannot be identified as a person.

The following data is stored by IONOS WebAnalytics:

• Your browser type and version
• which website you visited previously (referrer)
• which specific website you have visited on our site
• which operating system you are using
• which device you are using (PC, tablet or smartphone)
• when you came to our site
• Your IP address in anonymized form

The data is not passed on to any third-party providers and is only used for statistical evaluations.

How long and where is the data stored?

The data is stored until the contract between IONOS WebAnalytics and us expires. In the case of a regular web hosting tariff, the data is stored in our log directory and used to generate graphical statistics. These logs are deleted every 8 weeks. In the case of a MyWebsite tariff, the data is determined via a pixel. In this case, the data is only stored and processed within IONOS WebAnalytics.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

In principle, you have the right to information, correction or deletion and restriction of the processing of your personal data at any time. You can also withdraw your consent to the processing of your data at any time. However, as no personal data is stored or processed via IONOS WebAnalytics and it is therefore not possible to identify you as a person, there is also no option to delete such data.

Legal basis

The use of IONOS WebAnalytics requires your consent, which we have obtained with our cookie pop-up. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by web analytics tools.

In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in analyzing the behavior of website visitors in order to improve our offer technically and economically. With the help of IONOS WebAnalytics, we can detect errors on the website, identify attacks and improve efficiency. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use IONOS WebAnalytics if you have given your consent.

We hope we have been able to provide you with the most important information about the truly economical data processing of IONOS WebAnalytics. If you would like to find out more about the tracking service, we recommend that you read the company's privacy policy at https://www.ionos.de/terms-gtc/datenschutzerklaerung/.

Data processing agreement (DPA) IONOS WebAnalytics

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with IONOS in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because IONOS processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that IONOS may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://www.ionos.de/hilfe/datenschutz/allgemeine-informationen-zur-datenschutz-grundverordnung-dsgvo/auftragsverarbeitung/.

Email marketing introduction

What is email marketing?

In order to keep you up to date, we also use the option of email marketing. If you have consented to receiving our emails or newsletters, your data will also be processed and stored. Email marketing is a sub-area of online marketing. It involves sending news or general information about a company, products or services by email to a specific group of people who are interested in them.

If you want to take part in our e-mail marketing (usually by newsletter), you normally just need to register with your e-mail address. To do this, you fill out an online form and send it off. However, we may also ask you to provide your title and name so that we can write to you personally.

In principle, subscribing to newsletters works with the help of the so-called "double opt-in procedure". After you have registered for our newsletter on our website, you will receive an e-mail confirming your newsletter registration. This ensures that the e-mail address belongs to you and that no one has registered with a third-party e-mail address. We or a notification tool used by us logs each individual registration. This is necessary so that we can prove that the registration process is legally correct. As a rule, the time of registration, the time of registration confirmation and your IP address are saved. In addition, it is also logged when you make changes to your stored data.

Why do we use e-mail marketing?

We naturally want to stay in contact with you and always provide you with the most important news about our company. To do this, we use email marketing - often simply referred to as "newsletters" - as an essential part of our online marketing. If you agree to this or if it is permitted by law, we will send you newsletters, system e-mails or other notifications by e-mail. When we use the term "newsletter" in the following text, we mainly mean regularly sent e-mails. Of course, we do not want to bother you in any way with our newsletters. That is why we make every effort to offer only relevant and interesting content. For example, you can find out more about our company, our services or products. As we are constantly improving our offers, you will always find out via our newsletter when there is news or when we are offering special, lucrative promotions. If we commission a service provider who offers a professional mailing tool for our email marketing, we do so in order to be able to offer you fast and secure newsletters. The purpose of our email marketing is basically to inform you about new offers and also to achieve our business goals.

What data is processed?

If you become a subscriber to our newsletter via our website, you confirm your membership of an e-mail list by e-mail. In addition to your IP address and e-mail address, your title, name, address and telephone number may also be stored. However, only if you consent to this data storage. The data marked as such is necessary so that you can participate in the service offered. Providing this information is voluntary, but if you do not provide it, you will not be able to use the service. In addition, information about your device or your preferred content on our website may also be stored. You can find out more about the storage of data when you visit a website in the "Automatic data storage" section. We record your declaration of consent so that we can always prove that it complies with our laws.

Duration of data processing

If you unsubscribe your e-mail address from our e-mail/newsletter distribution list, we may store your address for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests so that we can still prove your consent at that time. We may only process this data if we have to defend ourselves against any claims.

However, if you confirm that you have given us your consent to the newsletter registration, you can submit an individual deletion request at any time. If you permanently revoke your consent, we reserve the right to store your e-mail address in a blacklist. As long as you have voluntarily subscribed to our newsletter, we will of course retain your e-mail address.

Right to object

You can cancel your newsletter subscription at any time. All you have to do is withdraw your consent to the newsletter subscription. This usually only takes a few seconds or one or two clicks. You will usually find a link to cancel your newsletter subscription at the end of every email. If you really cannot find the link in the newsletter, please contact us by e-mail and we will cancel your newsletter subscription immediately.

Legal basis

Our newsletter is sent on the basis of your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). This means that we may only send you a newsletter if you have actively subscribed to it beforehand. We may also send you advertising messages if you have become our customer and have not objected to the use of your email address for direct advertising.

Information on special email marketing services and how they process personal data, if available, can be found in the following sections.

Brevo privacy policy

What is Brevo?

You can register for our newsletter free of charge on our website. To ensure that this works, we use the Brevo email delivery service for our newsletter. This is a service provided by the German company Sendinblue GmbH, Köpenicker Str. 126, 10179 Berlin. Brevo is, among other things, an e-mail marketing tool with which we can send you customized newsletters. With Brevo, we don't have to install anything and can still draw from a pool of really useful functions. In the following, we will take a closer look at Brevo's e-mail marketing service and inform you about the most important aspects relevant to data protection.

Why do we use Brevo?

The newsletter service also offers us helpful analysis options. This means that when we send out a newsletter, we find out, for example, whether and when the newsletter was opened by you. The software also recognizes and records whether and on which link you click in the newsletter. This information helps us enormously to adapt and optimize our service to your wishes and concerns. After all, we naturally want to offer you the best possible service. In addition to the data already mentioned above, data about your user behavior is also stored.

What data is processed by Brevo?

We are of course very pleased if you subscribe to our newsletter. This enables us to keep you up to date with what is happening in our company. However, you should know that when you register for the newsletter, all the data you enter (such as your e-mail address or your first name and surname) will be stored and managed on our server and by Brevo. This also involves personal data. For example, in addition to the time and date of registration, your IP address is also stored. During the registration process, you also consent to us sending you the newsletter and reference is also made to this privacy policy. Furthermore, data such as click behavior in the newsletter may also be processed.

How long and where is the data stored?

The data for the newsletter tool is stored on servers in Germany. The data collected that makes you identifiable as a person (i.e. personal data) will generally be deleted by Brevo no later than two years after the end of the contractual relationship with us. However, you can also request the deletion of your data individually at any time. Requests will be processed within 30 days. Data that we collect and send to Brevo will be deleted as soon as you unsubscribe from our newsletter.

Right of objection

You can cancel your newsletter subscription at any time. All you have to do is withdraw your consent to the newsletter subscription. This usually only takes a few seconds or one or two clicks. You will usually find a link to cancel your newsletter subscription at the end of every email. If you really cannot find the link in the newsletter, please contact us by e-mail and we will cancel your newsletter subscription immediately. After unsubscribing, the personal data will be deleted from our server and from the Brevo servers, which are located in Germany. You have a right to free information about your stored data and, if necessary, a right to deletion, blocking or correction.

Legal basis

Our newsletter is sent by Brevo on the basis of your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). This means that we may only send you a newsletter if you have actively subscribed to it beforehand. If consent is not required, the newsletter will be sent on the basis of our legitimate interest in direct marketing (Article 6(1)(f)), insofar as this is permitted by law. We record your registration process so that we can always prove that it complies with our laws.

If you would like more information about data processing, we recommend that you read the company's privacy policy at https://www.brevo.com/de/legal/privacypolicy/.

Gmail privacy policy

We also use the email service Gmail for our business. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European region, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Gmail in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

HubSpot Email Privacy Policy

We also use the email marketing tool HubSpot Email. The service provider is the American company HubSpot Inc, 25 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA.

HubSpot also processes your data in the USA, among other places. HubSpot is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, HubSpot uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, HubSpot undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

You can find out more about the data and standard contractual clauses that are processed through the use of HubSpot Email in the privacy policy at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy.

Push messages Introduction

What are push notifications?

We also use push notification services on our website to keep our users up to date at all times. This means that if you have consented to the use of such push notifications, we can send you short news items with the help of a software tool. Push notifications are a form of text message that appears directly on your smartphone or other devices such as tablets or PCs if you have registered for them. You will receive these messages even if you are not on our website or are not actively using our services. Data about your location and your usage behavior may also be collected and stored.

Why do we use push notifications?

On the one hand, we use push notifications in order to be able to fully provide the services that we have contractually agreed with you. On the other hand, the messages also serve our online marketing. We can use these messages to bring our services or products closer to you. Especially when there is news in our company, we can inform you immediately. We want to get to know the preferences and habits of all our users as well as possible in order to continuously improve our offer.

What data is processed?

In order to receive push messages, you must also confirm that you wish to receive these messages. The data collected during the consent process is also stored, managed and processed. This is necessary so that it can be proven and recognized that a user has agreed to receive the push messages. A so-called device token or push token is stored in your browser for this purpose. The data of your location or the location of the end device you are using is usually also stored.

To ensure that we always send interesting and important push messages, the handling of the messages is also statistically evaluated. This allows us to see, for example, whether and when you open the message. With the help of these findings, we can adapt our communication strategy to your wishes and interests. Although this stored data can be assigned to you, we do not want to check you as an individual. Rather, we are interested in the data collected from all our users so that we can make optimizations. You can find out exactly which data is stored in the data protection declarations of the respective service providers.

Duration of data processing

How long the data is processed and stored depends primarily on the tool we use. You can find out more about the data processing of the individual tools below. The providers' privacy policies usually specify exactly which data is stored and processed and for how long. In principle, personal data is only processed for as long as is necessary for the provision of our services. If data is stored in cookies, the storage period varies greatly. The data can be deleted immediately after leaving a website, but it can also remain stored for several years. You should therefore look at each individual cookie in detail if you want to know more about data storage. In most cases, you will also find informative information about the individual cookies in the data protection declarations of the individual providers.

Legal basis

It may also be the case that push notifications are necessary in order to fulfill certain contractual obligations. For example, so that we can inform you of technical or organizational news. Then the legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR.

If this is not the case, the push messages will only be sent on the basis of your consent. In particular, our push messages may have advertising content. The push notifications may also be sent depending on your location as displayed by your end device. The above-mentioned analytical evaluations are also based on your consent to receive such messages. The legal basis in this respect is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. You can of course withdraw your consent or change various settings in the settings at any time.

Messenger & communication Introduction

What are messenger & communication functions?

We offer various options on our website (such as messenger and chat functions, online or contact forms, email, telephone) to communicate with us. Your data will also be processed and stored to the extent necessary to respond to your request and our subsequent actions.

In addition to traditional means of communication such as e-mail, contact forms or telephone, we also use chats or messengers. The most commonly used messenger function is currently WhatsApp, but there are of course many different providers that offer messenger functions specifically for websites. If content is end-to-end encrypted, this is indicated in the individual data protection texts or in the privacy policy of the respective provider. End-to-end encryption means that the content of a message itself is not visible to the provider. However, information about your device, location settings and other technical data can still be processed and stored.

Why do we use messenger & communication functions?

Communication options with you are very important to us. After all, we want to talk to you and answer all possible questions about our service in the best possible way. Well-functioning communication is an important part of our service. With the practical messenger & communication functions, you can choose the ones you prefer at any time. In exceptional cases, however, we may not be able to answer certain questions via chat or messenger. This is the case, for example, when it comes to internal contractual matters. In this case, we recommend other communication options such as e-mail or telephone.

As a rule, we assume that we remain responsible under data protection law, even if we use the services of a social media platform. However, the European Court of Justice has ruled that in certain cases the operator of the social media platform may be jointly responsible with us within the meaning of Art. 26 GDPR. If this is the case, we will point this out separately and work on the basis of an agreement to this effect. The essence of the agreement is set out below for the platform concerned.

Please note that when using our built-in elements, your data may also be processed outside the European Union, as many providers, such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, are American companies. As a result, you may not be able to claim or enforce your rights in relation to your personal data as easily.

What data is processed?

Exactly which data is stored and processed depends on the respective provider of the messenger & communication functions. Basically, it is data such as name, address, telephone number, email address and content data such as all information that you enter in a contact form. In most cases, information about your device and IP address is also stored. Data that is collected via a messenger & communication function is also stored on the provider's servers.

If you want to know exactly what data is stored and processed by the respective providers and how you can object to data processing, you should carefully read the respective company's privacy policy.

How long is data stored?

How long the data is processed and stored depends primarily on the tools we use. You can find out more about the data processing of the individual tools below. The providers' privacy policies usually state exactly which data is stored and processed and for how long. In principle, personal data is only processed for as long as is necessary for the provision of our services. If data is stored in cookies, the storage period varies greatly. The data can be deleted immediately after leaving a website, but it can also remain stored for several years. You should therefore look at each individual cookie in detail if you want to know more about data storage. In most cases, you will also find informative information about the individual cookies in the data protection declarations of the individual providers.

Right to object

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser. For more information, please refer to the section on consent.

As cookies may be used for messenger & communication functions, we also recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated messenger & communication functions, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). We process your request and manage your data in the context of contractual or pre-contractual relationships in order to fulfill our pre-contractual and contractual obligations or to answer inquiries. The basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b. GDPR. In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners if you have given your consent.

Google Chat privacy policy

We use the messaging service Google Chat for our website. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European area, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Google Chat in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

HubSpot Customer Service Privacy Policy

We use HubSpot on our website, including a customer service tool. The service provider is the American company HubSpot, Inc, 25 First St 2nd Floor Cambridge, MA, USA. The company also has a registered office in Ireland at 1 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.

HubSpot also processes your data in the USA, among other places. HubSpot is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, HubSpot uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, HubSpot undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among others: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Data Processing Agreement, which corresponds to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of HubSpot in the Privacy Policy at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy.

Data processing agreement (DPA) HubSpot Customer Service

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with HubSpot in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because HubSpot processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that HubSpot may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

Chatbots introduction

What are chatbots?

You can also communicate with us via chatbots or similar chat functions. A chat offers the possibility to write or speak to each other with very little delay. A chatbot is a piece of software that tries to answer your question and informs you of any news. By using these means of communication, your personal data may also be processed and stored.

Why do we use chatbots?

Communication options with you are important to us. After all, we want to talk to you and answer all possible questions about our service in the best possible way. Well-functioning communication is an important part of our service. Chatbots have the great advantage that we can answer frequently asked questions automatically with the help of this software. This saves us time and you still receive detailed and helpful answers. If the chatbot is unable to help, you can of course contact us in person at any time.

Please note that when using our built-in elements, your data may also be processed outside the European Union, as many providers are American companies. As a result, you may not be able to claim or enforce your rights in relation to your personal data as easily.

What data is processed?

You may also use the chat services on other websites/platforms. In this case, your user ID will also be stored on the servers of this website. We may also be informed about which user has used the chat and when. The content is also stored. Exactly which data is stored depends on the respective service. As a rule, however, it is contact data such as e-mail address or telephone number, IP address and various usage data.

If you have given your consent for the chat function to be used, this consent and any registration will also be saved or logged. We do this so that we can prove registration or consent if this is required by law.

The provider of a chat platform can also find out when you chat and also receives technical information about the device you are using. Exactly what information is stored and processed also depends on your PC settings. In many cases, for example, data on your approximate location can be collected. This is done on the one hand to optimize the chat services and on the other hand to ensure greater security. Furthermore, the information can also be used to set personalized advertising and marketing measures.

If you have consented to a chatbot sending you messages, you can of course deactivate this activation at any time. The chatbot also serves as an aid here and shows you how you can unsubscribe from this function. All your data in this regard will then be deleted from the recipient directory.

We use the above-mentioned data to be able to address you personally via the chat, for example, to answer your questions and inquiries or to send you possible content. It also enables us to fundamentally improve our chat services.

How long is data stored?

How long the data is processed and stored depends primarily on the tools we use. You can find out more about the data processing of the individual tools below. The providers' privacy policies usually state exactly which data is stored and processed and for how long. In principle, personal data is only processed for as long as is necessary for the provision of our services. If data is stored in cookies, the storage period varies greatly. The data can be deleted immediately after leaving a website, but it can also remain stored for several years. You should therefore look at each individual cookie in detail if you want to know more about data storage. In most cases, you will also find informative information about the individual cookies in the data protection declarations of the individual providers.

Right to object

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.

As chat services may use cookies, we also recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal basis

We ask for your permission to process your data as part of the chat services via a pop-up window. If you consent, this consent also serves as the legal basis (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) for data processing. We also process your inquiries and manage your data in the context of contractual or pre-contractual relationships in order to fulfill our pre-contractual and contractual obligations or to answer inquiries. The basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b. GDPR. In principle, your data is also stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners. Nevertheless, we only use the tools if you have given your consent.

HubSpot (chatbot) privacy policy

We also use the HubSpot chatbot function. The service provider is the American company HubSpot, Inc, 25 First Street, 2nd floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, USA.

HubSpot also processes your data in the USA, among other places. HubSpot is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, HubSpot uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, HubSpot undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among others: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Data Processing Agreement, which corresponds to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of HubSpot in the Privacy Policy at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy.

Data Processing Agreement (DPA) HubSpot (Chatbot)

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with HubSpot in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because HubSpot processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that HubSpot may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

Social media introduction

What is social media?

In addition to our website, we are also active on various social media platforms. User data may be processed so that we can target users who are interested in us via the social networks. In addition, elements of a social media platform may also be embedded directly in our website. This is the case, for example, if you click on a social button on our website and are forwarded directly to our social media presence. Social media refers to websites and apps that registered members can use to produce content, share content openly or in specific groups and network with other members.

Why do we use social media?

For years, social media platforms have been the place where people communicate and connect online. With our social media presence, we can bring our products and services closer to interested parties. The social media elements integrated on our website help you to switch to our social media content quickly and without complications.

The data that is stored and processed through your use of a social media channel is primarily used to carry out web analyses. The aim of these analyses is to be able to develop more precise and personalized marketing and advertising strategies. Depending on your behavior on a social media platform, the evaluated data can be used to draw conclusions about your interests and create user profiles. This also enables the platforms to present you with customized advertisements. Cookies are usually set in your browser for this purpose, which store data on your usage behavior.

As a rule, we assume that we remain responsible under data protection law, even if we use the services of a social media platform. However, the European Court of Justice has ruled that in certain cases the operator of the social media platform may be jointly responsible with us within the meaning of Art. 26 GDPR. If this is the case, we will point this out separately and work on the basis of an agreement to this effect. The essence of the agreement is then reproduced below for the platform concerned.

Please note that when using the social media platforms or our built-in elements, your data may also be processed outside the European Union, as many social media channels, such as Facebook or Twitter, are American companies. As a result, you may not be able to claim or enforce your rights in relation to your personal data as easily.

What data is processed?

Exactly which data is stored and processed depends on the provider of the social media platform in question. However, it is usually data such as telephone numbers, email addresses, data that you enter in a contact form, user data such as which buttons you click, who you like or follow, when you visited which pages, information about your device and your IP address. Most of this data is stored in cookies. Data can be linked to your profile, especially if you have a profile on the social media channel you are visiting and are logged in.

All data that is collected via a social media platform is also stored on the provider's servers. This means that only the providers have access to the data and can provide you with the appropriate information or make changes.

If you want to know exactly what data is stored and processed by the social media providers and how you can object to data processing, you should read the company's privacy policy carefully. We also recommend that you contact the provider directly if you have any questions about data storage and data processing or wish to assert corresponding rights.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below if we have further information on this. For example, the social media platform Facebook stores data until it is no longer required for its own purposes. However, customer data that is compared with our own user data is deleted within two days. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. If required by law, for example in the case of accounting, this storage period may be exceeded.

Right to object

You also have the right and opportunity to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers such as embedded social media elements at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.

As social media tools may use cookies, we also recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners if you have given your consent. Nevertheless, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our data protection text on cookies carefully and consult the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

Information on specific social media platforms - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Facebook privacy policy

What are Facebook tools?

We use selected tools from Facebook on our website. Facebook is a social media network of the company Meta Platforms Inc. or, for the European region, Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland. With the help of these tools, we can offer you and people who are interested in our products and services the best possible offer.

If data is collected and forwarded from you via our embedded Facebook elements or via our Facebook page (fan page), both we and Facebook Ireland Ltd. are responsible for this. Facebook is solely responsible for the further processing of this data. Our joint obligations are also set out in a publicly accessible agreement at https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. This states, for example, that we must clearly inform you about the use of Facebook tools on our site. Furthermore, we are also responsible for ensuring that the tools are securely integrated into our website in accordance with data protection law. Facebook, on the other hand, is responsible for the data security of Facebook products, for example. If you have any questions about data collection and data processing by Facebook, you can contact the company directly. If you address the question to us, we are obliged to forward it to Facebook.

Below we provide an overview of the various Facebook tools, what data is sent to Facebook and how you can delete this data.

In addition to many other products, Facebook also offers the so-called "Facebook Business Tools", which is the official name of Facebook. However, as the term is hardly known, we have decided to simply call them Facebook tools. These include, among others:

• Facebook Pixel
• Social plug-ins (such as the "Like" or "Share" button)
• Facebook login
• account kit
• APIs (programming interface)
• SDKs (collection of programming tools)
• Platform integrations
• plugins
• codes
• specifications
• Documentation
• Technologies and services

Through these tools, Facebook expands services and has the ability to obtain information about user activity outside of Facebook.

Why do we use Facebook tools on our website?

We only want to show our services and products to people who are really interested in them. With the help of advertisements (Facebook ads), we can reach precisely these people. However, Facebook needs information about people's wishes and needs in order to show users suitable advertising. The company is therefore provided with information about user behavior (and contact details) on our website. As a result, Facebook collects better user data and can show interested people suitable advertising about our products or services. The tools thus enable customized advertising campaigns on Facebook.

Facebook calls data about your behavior on our website "event data". This is also used for measurement and analysis services. Facebook can thus create "campaign reports" on our behalf about the impact of our advertising campaigns. Furthermore, analytics give us a better insight into how you use our services, website or products. This allows us to optimize your user experience on our website with some of these tools. For example, you can use the social plug-ins to share content on our site directly on Facebook.

What data is stored by Facebook tools?

By using individual Facebook tools, personal data (customer data) may be sent to Facebook. Depending on the tools used, customer data such as name, address, telephone number and IP address may be sent.

Facebook uses this information to match the data with the data it has about you (if you are a Facebook member). Before customer data is transmitted to Facebook, it is hashed. This means that a data record of any size is transformed into a character string. This also serves to encrypt data.

In addition to the contact data, "event data" is also transmitted. "Event data" refers to the information we receive about you on our website. For example, which subpages you visit or which products you buy from us. Facebook does not share the information it receives with third parties (such as advertisers) unless the company has explicit permission or is legally obliged to do so. "Event data" can also be linked to contact details. This allows Facebook to offer better personalized advertising. After the aforementioned matching process, Facebook deletes the contact data again.

In order to deliver optimized ads, Facebook only uses event data if it has been combined with other data (collected by Facebook in other ways). Facebook also uses this event data for security, protection, development and research purposes. Much of this data is transferred to Facebook via cookies. Cookies are small text files that are used to store data or information in browsers. Depending on the tools used and whether you are a Facebook member, different numbers of cookies are stored in your browser. We go into more detail about individual Facebook cookies in the descriptions of the individual Facebook tools. You can also find general information about the use of Facebook cookies at https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies.

How long and where is the data stored?

In principle, Facebook stores data until it is no longer needed for its own services and Facebook products. Facebook has servers all over the world where its data is stored. However, customer data is deleted within 48 hours after it has been compared with its own user data.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access, rectification, portability and erasure of your data.

Your data will only be deleted completely if you delete your Facebook account completely. And this is how deleting your Facebook account works:

1) Click on Settings on the right-hand side of Facebook.

2) Then click on "Your Facebook information" in the left-hand column.

3) Now click on "Deactivation and deletion".

4) Now select "Delete account" and then click on "Continue and delete account"

5) Now enter your password, click on "Next" and then on "Delete account"

The data that Facebook receives via our site is stored using cookies (e.g. for social plugins). You can deactivate, delete or manage individual or all cookies in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. In the "Cookies" section, you will find the relevant links to the instructions for the most popular browsers.

If you do not want to have any cookies, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. This allows you to decide for each individual cookie whether you want to allow it or not.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated Facebook tools, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data is also stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners. Nevertheless, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our privacy policy about cookies carefully and take a look at Facebook's privacy policy or cookie guidelines.

Facebook also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Facebook or Meta Platforms is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data of EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Facebook also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Facebook undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Facebook data processing conditions, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing.

We hope we have provided you with the most important information about the use and data processing by the Facebook tools. If you would like to find out more about how Facebook uses your data, we recommend that you read the data policy at https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/.

Facebook social plug-ins privacy policy

Social plug-ins from Meta Platforms Inc. are integrated on our website. You can recognize these buttons by the classic Facebook logo, such as the "Like" button (the hand with a raised thumb) or by a clear "Facebook plug-in" label. A social plug-in is a small part of Facebook that is integrated into our site. Each plug-in has its own function. The most commonly used functions are the familiar "Like" and "Share" buttons.

The following social plug-ins are offered by Facebook:

• "Save" button
• "Like" button, share, send and quote
• Page plug-in
• Comments plug-in
• Messenger plug-in
• Embedded posts and video player
• Group plug-in

You can find more information on how the individual plug-ins are used at https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins. We use the social plug-ins on the one hand to offer you a better user experience on our site, and on the other hand because Facebook can optimize our advertisements as a result.

If you have a Facebook account or have already visited https://www.facebook.com/, Facebook has already set at least one cookie in your browser. In this case, your browser sends information to Facebook via this cookie as soon as you visit our site or interact with social plug-ins (e.g. the "Like" button).

The information received is deleted or anonymized within 90 days. According to Facebook, this data includes your IP address, which website you visited, the date, time and other information relating to your browser.

To prevent Facebook from collecting a lot of data during your visit to our website and linking it to Facebook data, you must log out of Facebook during your visit to the website.

If you are not logged in to Facebook or do not have a Facebook account, your browser will send less information to Facebook because you have fewer Facebook cookies. Nevertheless, data such as your IP address or which website you visit may be transmitted to Facebook. We would like to expressly point out that we do not know the exact content of the data. However, to the best of our current knowledge, we try to inform you as much as possible about the data processing. You can also read about how Facebook uses the data in the company's data policy at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update.

The following cookies are set in your browser as a minimum when you visit a website with Facebook social plug-ins:

Name: dpr
Value: not specified
Purpose: This cookie is used to make the social plug-ins on our website work.
Expiration date: after the end of the session

Name: fr
Wert: 0jieyh4322341765c2GnlufEJ9..Bde09j…1.0.Bde09j
Purpose: The cookie is also necessary for the plug-ins to function properly.
Expiration date:: after 3 months

Note: These cookies were set after a test, even if you are not a Facebook member.

If you are logged in to Facebook, you can change your settings for advertisements yourself at https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/advertisers/. If you are not a Facebook user, you can manage your usage-based online advertising at https://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/?tid=322341765. There you have the option of deactivating or activating providers.

If you want to find out more about Facebook's data protection, we recommend that you read the company's own data policy at https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/.

LinkedIn privacy policy

What is LinkedIn?

We use social plug-ins from the social media network LinkedIn, LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA, on our website. The social plug-ins may be feeds, content sharing or links to our LinkedIn page. The social plug-ins are clearly marked with the familiar LinkedIn logo and allow, for example, interesting content to be shared directly via our website. For the European Economic Area and Switzerland, LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company Wilton Place in Dublin is responsible for data processing.

By embedding such plug-ins, data can be sent to LinkedIn, stored and processed there. In this privacy policy, we want to inform you about what data is involved, how the network uses this data and how you can manage or prevent data storage.

LinkedIn is the largest social network for business contacts. Unlike Facebook, for example, the company focuses exclusively on building business contacts. Companies can present services and products on the platform and establish business relationships. Many people also use LinkedIn to look for jobs or to find suitable employees for their own company. In Germany alone, the network has over 11 million members. In Austria, there are around 1.3 million.

Why do we use LinkedIn on our website?

We know how busy you are. You can't follow all social media channels individually. Even if, as in our case, it would be worthwhile. Because we always post interesting news or reports that are worth sharing. That's why we have created the option on our website to share interesting content directly on LinkedIn or to link directly to our LinkedIn page. We regard integrated social plug-ins as an extended service on our website. The data that LinkedIn collects also helps us to show possible advertising measures only to people who are interested in our offer.

What data is stored by LinkedIn?

LinkedIn does not store any personal data simply by integrating the social plug-ins. LinkedIn calls this data, which is generated by plug-ins, passive impressions. However, if you click on a social plug-in, for example to share our content, the platform stores personal data as so-called "active impressions". This happens regardless of whether you have a LinkedIn account or not. If you are logged in, the data collected will be assigned to your account.

Your browser establishes a direct connection to LinkedIn's servers when you interact with our plug-ins. In this way, the company logs various usage data. In addition to your IP address, this may include login data, device information or information about your internet or mobile provider. If you access LinkedIn services via your smartphone, your location can also be determined (after you have allowed this). LinkedIn can also pass this data on to third-party advertisers in hashed form. Hashing means that a data record is converted into a character string. This allows the data to be encrypted in such a way that individuals can no longer be identified.

Most of the data on your user behavior is stored in cookies. These are small text files that are usually set in your browser. LinkedIn can also use web beacons, pixel tags, display tags and other device identifiers.

Various tests also show which cookies are set when a user interacts with a social plug-in. The data found cannot claim to be complete and serves only as an example. The following cookies were set without being logged in to LinkedIn:

Name: bcookie
Wert: =2&34aab2aa-2ae1-4d2a-8baf-c2e2d7235c16322341765-
Purpose: The cookie is a so-called "browser ID cookie" and therefore stores your identification number (ID).
Expiration date: After 2 years

Name: lang
Value: v=2&lang=en-de
Purpose: This cookie stores your preset or preferred language.
Expiration date: after end of session

Name: lidc
Wert: 1818367:t=1571904767:s=AQF6KNnJ0G322341765…
Purpose: This cookie is used for routing. Routing records the ways in which you came to LinkedIn and how you navigate through the website.
Expiration date: after 24 hours

Name: rtc
Value: kt0lrv3NF3x3t6xvDgGrZGDKkX
Purpose: No further information could be found on this cookie.
Expiration date: after 2 minutes

Name: JSESSIONID
Wert: ajax:3223417652900777718326218137
Purpose: This is a session cookie that LinkedIn uses to maintain anonymous user sessions through the server.
Expiration date: after the end of the session

Name: bscookie
Value: "v=1&201910230812...
Purpose: This cookie is a security cookie. LinkedIn describes it as a secure browser ID cookie.
Expiration date: after 2 years

Name: fid
Value: AQHj7Ii23ZBcqAAAA...
Purpose: No further information could be found for this cookie.
Expiration date: after 7 days

Note: LinkedIn also works with third-party providers. That is why we also recognized the two Google Analytics cookies _ga and _gat during our test.

How long and where is the data stored?

In principle, LinkedIn retains your personal data for as long as the company considers it necessary to provide its own services. However, LinkedIn deletes your personal data when you delete your account. In some exceptional cases, LinkedIn retains some data in aggregated and anonymized form even after you delete your account. As soon as you delete your account, other people will no longer be able to see your data within one day. LinkedIn generally deletes the data within 30 days. However, LinkedIn retains data if it is required by law. Data that can no longer be assigned to a person remains stored even after the account has been closed. The data is stored on various servers in America and presumably also in Europe.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

You have the right to access and delete your personal data at any time. You can manage, change and delete your data in your LinkedIn account. You can also request a copy of your personal data from LinkedIn.

How to access the account data in your LinkedIn profile:

In LinkedIn, click on your profile icon and select the "Settings and privacy" section. Now click on "Privacy" and then on "Change" in the section "How LinkedIn uses your data". In just a short time, you can download selected data about your web activity and your account history.

You also have the option in your browser to prevent LinkedIn from processing your data. As mentioned above, LinkedIn stores most of the data via cookies that are set in your browser. You can manage, deactivate or delete these cookies. Depending on which browser you have, the management works slightly differently. In the "Cookies" section, you will find the relevant links to the instructions for the most popular browsers.

You can also set up your browser so that you are always informed when a cookie is to be set. Then you can always decide individually whether you want to allow the cookie or not.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated social media elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data is also stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners. Nevertheless, we only use the integrated social media elements if you have given your consent. Most social media platforms also set cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our data protection text on cookies carefully and consult the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

LinkedIn also processes your data in the USA, among other places. LinkedIn is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

LinkedIn also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, LinkedIn undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses at LinkedIn at https://de.linkedin.com/legal/l/dpaoder https://www.linkedin.com/legal/l/eu-sccs.

We have tried to provide you with the most important information about data processing by LinkedIn. You can find out more about data processing by the social media network LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

LinkedIn data processing agreement (DPA)

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with LinkedIn in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because LinkedIn processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that LinkedIn may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://de.linkedin.com/legal/l/dpa.

Online marketing introduction

What is online marketing?

Online marketing refers to all measures that are carried out online in order to achieve marketing goals such as increasing brand awareness or closing a deal. Our online marketing measures are also aimed at drawing people's attention to our website. We therefore use online marketing to show our offer to many interested people. This usually involves online advertising, content marketing or search engine optimization. Personal data is also stored and processed so that we can use online marketing efficiently and in a targeted manner. On the one hand, the data helps us to show our content only to those people who are actually interested in it and, on the other hand, we can measure the advertising success of our online marketing measures.

Why do we use online marketing tools?

We want to show our website to everyone who is interested in what we have to offer. We are aware that this is not possible without consciously implemented measures. That's why we do online marketing. There are various tools that make it easier for us to work on our online marketing measures and also constantly provide suggestions for improvement via data. This allows us to focus our campaigns more precisely on our target group. The purpose of these online marketing tools is ultimately to optimize our offering.

What data is processed?

User profiles are created and data is stored in cookies (small text files), for example, so that our online marketing works and the success of the measures can be measured. With the help of this data, we can not only place traditional advertising, but also display our content directly on our website in the way you prefer. There are various third-party tools that offer these functions and also collect and store your data accordingly. For example, the named cookies store which web pages you have visited on our website, how long you have viewed these pages, which links or buttons you click or which website you came to us from. Technical information may also be stored. For example, your IP address, which browser you use, from which device you visit our website or the time when you accessed our website and when you left it again. If you have agreed that we may also determine your location, we may also store and process this.

Your IP address is stored in pseudonymized form (i.e. shortened). Unique data that directly identifies you as a person, such as your name, address or email address, is also only stored in pseudonymized form as part of the advertising and online marketing process. This means that we cannot identify you as a person; we only store the pseudonymized information in the user profiles.

The cookies may also be used, analyzed and used for advertising purposes on other websites that work with the same advertising tools. The data may then also be stored on the servers of the advertising tool providers.

In exceptional cases, unique data (name, e-mail address, etc.) may also be stored in the user profiles. This storage occurs, for example, if you are a member of a social media channel that we use for our online marketing measures and the network links previously received data to the user profile.

With all the advertising tools we use that store your data on their servers, we only ever receive aggregated information and never data that identifies you as an individual. The data only shows how well advertising measures worked. For example, we can see which measures prompted you or other users to come to our website and purchase a service or product there. Based on the analyses, we can improve our advertising offer in the future and adapt it even more precisely to the needs and wishes of interested persons.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. Data that is stored in cookies is stored for different lengths of time. Some cookies are deleted as soon as you leave the website, while others may be stored in your browser for several years. You can usually find detailed information about the individual cookies used by the provider in the respective data protection declarations of the individual providers.

Right to object

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser. The lawfulness of the processing until the revocation remains unaffected.

As cookies can generally be used with online marketing tools, we also recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by online marketing tools.

We also have a legitimate interest in measuring online marketing measures in anonymized form in order to optimize our offer and our measures with the help of the data obtained. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use the tools if you have given your consent.

Information on special online marketing tools - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Deutsche Post privacy policy

We use Deutsche Post advertising services for our website. The service provider is the German company Deutsche Post AG, Charles-de-Gaulle-Straße 20 53113 Bonn, Germany.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Deutsche Post services in the privacy policy at https://www.deutschepost.de/de/f/footer/datenschutz.html.

HubSpot privacy policy

We use HubSpot, a digital marketing tool, on our website. The service provider is the American company HubSpot, Inc, 25 First Street, 2nd Floor Cambridge, MA, USA. The company also has a registered office in Ireland at 1 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.

HubSpot also processes your data in the USA, among other places. HubSpot is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, HubSpot uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to and stored in third countries (such as the USA). Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, HubSpot undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among others: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Data Processing Agreement, which corresponds to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of HubSpot in the Privacy Policy at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy .

Data processing agreement (DPA) HubSpot

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with HubSpot in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because HubSpot processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that HubSpot may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

Content Delivery Networks Introduction

What is a content delivery network?

We use what is known as a content delivery network on our website. Such a network is usually just called a CDN. A CDN helps us to load our website quickly and easily, regardless of your location. Your personal data is also stored, managed and processed on the servers of the CDN provider used. In the following, we go into more detail about the service and its data processing. You can find detailed information about how your data is handled in the provider's privacy policy.

Each Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of regionally distributed servers that are all connected to each other via the Internet. Via this network, website content (especially very large files) can be delivered quickly and smoothly, even during large load peaks. The CDN creates a copy of our website on your servers. As these servers are distributed worldwide, the website can be delivered quickly. The data transfer to your browser is therefore significantly shortened by the CDN.

Why do we use a content delivery network for our website?

A fast-loading website is part of our service. Of course, we know how annoying it is when a website loads at a snail's pace. Most people even lose patience and leave before the website has fully loaded. Of course we want to avoid that. That's why a fast-loading website is a natural part of our website offering. With a content delivery network, our website loads much faster in your browser. The use of a CDN is particularly helpful if you are abroad, because the website is delivered from a server near you.

What data is processed?

When you request a website or the content of a website and this is cached in a CDN, the CDN forwards the request to the server closest to you and this server delivers the content. Content delivery networks are structured in such a way that JavaScript libraries can be downloaded and hosted on npm and Github servers. Alternatively, most CDNs also allow WordPress plugins to be loaded if they are hosted on WordPress.org. Your browser may send personal data to the content delivery network we use. This includes data such as IP address, browser type, browser version, which website is loaded or the time and date of the page visit. This data is collected and stored by the CDN. Whether cookies are used for data storage depends on the network used. Please read the data protection texts of the respective service.

Right to object

If you wish to completely prevent this data transfer, you can install a JavaScript blocker (see for example https://noscript.net/) on your PC. Of course, our website will then no longer be able to offer the usual service (such as a fast loading speed).

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of a content delivery network, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by a content delivery network.

We also have a legitimate interest in using a content delivery network to optimize our online service and make it more secure. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use the tool if you have given your consent.

Information on special content delivery networks - if available - can be found in the following sections.

jQuery CDN privacy policy

What is jQuery?

We use jQuery CDN services from the OpenJS Foundation to deliver our website and jQuery library to you quickly and easily on different devices. jQuery is distributed via the Content Delivery Network (CDN) of the American software company Fastly, Inc. (475 Brannan St, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94107, USA). This service is used to store, manage and process your personal data. In this privacy policy, we go into more detail about which of your data is processed through the use of jQuery CDN.

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of regionally distributed servers that are connected to each other via the Internet. Through this network, content, especially very large files, can be delivered quickly even during large load peaks. jQuery creates a copy of our website on its servers. This allows our website to be delivered as quickly as possible. This means that the data transfer to your browser is shortened by a CDN.

Why do we use jQuery on our website?

It goes without saying that we want to offer you a comprehensive and well-functioning service with our website. This also includes a fast website. With jQuery, our website can be loaded much faster. The use of jQuery CDN is particularly helpful for users from abroad, as the site can be delivered from a server nearby.

What data is processed by jQuery?

jQuery uses JavaScript libraries to deliver our website content quickly. A CDN server loads the necessary files for this. As soon as a connection to the CDN server is established, your IP address is recorded and stored. This only happens if this data is not already stored in your browser from a previous visit to the website.

How long and where is the data stored?

jQuery or Fastly has servers distributed in different countries and your data can therefore be stored both in America and in the European Economic Area. Fastly retains personal data processed on our behalf for as long as necessary to provide the services offered, to comply with legal obligations, to resolve disputes and to enforce the agreements.

Right to object

You always have the right to information, correction and deletion of your personal data. If you have any questions, you can also contact the person responsible at jQuery at any time.

If you do not want data to be transmitted, you always have the option of installing Java script blockers such as https://www.ghostery.com/ or noscript.net. However, you can also simply deactivate the execution of JavaScript codes in your browser. If you decide to deactivate JavaScript codes, the usual functions will also change. For example, a website will no longer load as quickly.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of jQuery CDN, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when jQuery CDN is used.

We also have a legitimate interest in using jQuery CDN to optimize our online service and make it more secure. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use the tool if you have given your consent.

Fastly also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Fastly is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information about this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Fastly also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Fastly undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

The Fastly Data Processing Terms (Data Protection Terms), which correspond to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://www.fastly.com/data-processing/.

You can find more information on data protection at Fastly at https://www.fastly.com/privacy/ and on jQuery at https://images.prismic.io/openjsf/ba00b254-685f-4e54-b1ca-17984b0f3e55_OpenJS-Foundation-Privacy-Policy-2019-11-15.pdf.

Security & Anti-Spam

What is security & anti-spam software?

Security and anti-spam software can protect you and us from various spam or phishing emails and possible other cyberattacks. Spam refers to advertising emails from a mass mailing that you did not request yourself. Such emails are also known as data junk and can also cause costs. Phishing emails, on the other hand, are messages that aim to build trust via fake messages or websites in order to obtain personal data. Anti-spam software generally protects against unwanted spam messages or malicious emails that could introduce viruses into our system. We also use general firewall and security systems to protect our computers from unwanted network attacks.

Why do we use security & anti-spam software?

We attach great importance to security on our website. After all, it's not just about our security, but above all about yours. Unfortunately, cyber threats are now part of everyday life in the world of IT and the Internet. Hackers often try to steal personal data from an IT system with the help of a cyber attack. And that is why a good defense system is absolutely essential. A security system monitors all incoming and outgoing connections to our network or computer. To achieve even greater security against cyber attacks, we also use other external security services in addition to the standardized security systems on our computer. This prevents unauthorized data traffic and protects us from cybercrime.

What data is processed by security & anti-spam software?

Exactly what data is collected and stored depends of course on the service in question. However, we always strive to use only programs that collect data very sparingly or only store data that is necessary to provide the service offered. In principle, the service may store data such as name, address, IP address, e-mail address and technical data such as browser type or browser version. Any performance and log data may also be collected in order to detect possible incoming threats in good time. This data is processed as part of the services and in compliance with the applicable laws. This also includes the GDPR for US providers (via the standard contractual clauses). In some cases, these security services also work with third-party providers who may store and/or process data under instructions and in accordance with the data protection guidelines and other security measures. Data is usually stored via cookies.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below if we have further information on this. For example, security programs store data until you or we revoke the data storage. In general, personal data is only stored for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of the services. Unfortunately, in many cases we do not receive precise information from the providers about the length of storage.

Right of objection

You also have the right and opportunity to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party security software providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.

As such security services may also use cookies, we recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective tools.

Legal basis

We use the security services mainly on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in a good security system against various cyber attacks.

Certain processing operations, in particular the use of cookies and the use of security functions, require your consent. If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated security services, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). Most of the services we use set cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our data protection text on cookies carefully and view the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

Information on special tools - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Google reCAPTCHA privacy policy

What is reCAPTCHA?

Our primary goal is to secure and protect our website for you and for us in the best possible way. To ensure this, we use Google reCAPTCHA from Google Inc. For the European region, Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services. With reCAPTCHA we can determine whether you are really a flesh and blood person and not a robot or other spam software. By spam we mean any unsolicited information that is sent to us electronically. With the classic CAPTCHAs, you usually had to solve text or picture puzzles to verify your identity. With reCAPTCHA from Google, we don't usually have to bother you with such puzzles. In most cases, all you have to do is tick a box to confirm that you are not a bot. With the new Invisible reCAPTCHA version, you no longer even have to tick the box. You can find out exactly how this works and, above all, which data is used for this in the course of this privacy policy.

reCAPTCHA is a free captcha service from Google that protects websites from spam software and misuse by non-human visitors. This service is most commonly used when you fill out forms on the Internet. A Captcha service is a type of automatic Turing test that is designed to ensure that an action on the Internet is performed by a human and not by a bot. In the classic Turing test (named after the computer scientist Alan Turing), a human determines the difference between a bot and a human. With captchas, this is also done by a computer or software program. Classic captchas work with small tasks that are easy for humans to solve but present considerable difficulties for machines. With reCAPTCHA, you no longer have to actively solve puzzles. The tool uses modern risk techniques to distinguish humans from bots. All you have to do here is tick the "I am not a robot" text field, and with Invisible reCAPTCHA even this is no longer necessary. With reCAPTCHA, a JavaScript element is integrated into the source code and then the tool runs in the background and analyzes your user behaviour. The software calculates a so-called captcha score from these user actions. Google uses this score to calculate the probability that you are human even before you enter the captcha. reCAPTCHA or captchas in general are always used when bots could manipulate or abuse certain actions (e.g. registrations, surveys, etc.).

Why do we use reCAPTCHA on our website?

We only want to welcome people of flesh and blood on our site. Bots or spam software of all kinds can safely stay at home. That's why we do everything we can to protect ourselves and offer you the best possible user experience. For this reason, we use Google reCAPTCHA from Google. This way we can be pretty sure that we remain a "bot-free" website. By using reCAPTCHA, data is transmitted to Google to determine whether you are actually a human being. reCAPTCHA therefore serves to ensure the security of our website and, by extension, your security. For example, without reCAPTCHA it could happen that a bot registers as many e-mail addresses as possible during registration in order to subsequently "spam" forums or blogs with unwanted advertising content. With reCAPTCHA, we can prevent such bot attacks.

What data is stored by reCAPTCHA?

reCAPTCHA collects personal data from users in order to determine whether the actions on our website actually originate from people. The IP address and other data that Google requires for the reCAPTCHA service may therefore be sent to Google. IP addresses are almost always truncated within the member states of the EU or other signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before the data is sent to a server in the USA. The IP address is not combined with other Google data unless you are logged in with your Google account while using reCAPTCHA. First, the reCAPTCHA algorithm checks whether Google cookies from other Google services (YouTube, Gmail, etc.) have already been placed on your browser. Then reCAPTCHA places an additional cookie in your browser and takes a snapshot of your browser window.

The following list of collected browser and user data is not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, they are examples of data that, to our knowledge, are processed by Google.

• Referrer URL (the address of the page from which the visitor came)
• IP address (e.g. 256.123.123.1)
• Information about the operating system (the software that enables the operation of your computer. Common operating systems are Windows, Mac OS X or Linux)
• Cookies (small text files that store data in your browser)
• Mouse and keyboard behavior (every action you perform with the mouse or keyboard is saved)
• Date and language settings (which language or date you have preset on your PC is saved)
• All JavaScript objects (JavaScript is a programming language that enables websites to adapt to the user. JavaScript objects can collect all kinds of data under one name)
• Screen resolution (shows how many pixels the image display consists of)

It is undisputed that Google uses and analyzes this data even before you click on the "I am not a robot" checkbox. With the Invisible reCAPTCHA version, you don't even have to check the box and the entire recognition process runs in the background. Google does not tell you in detail exactly how much and what data it stores.

The following cookies are used by reCAPTCHA: Here we refer to the reCAPTCHA demo version from Google at https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api2/demo. All these cookies require a unique identifier for tracking purposes. Here is a list of cookies that Google reCAPTCHA has set on the demo version:

Name: IDE
Value: WqTUmlnmv_qXyi_DGNPLESKnRNrpgXoy1K-pAZtAkMbHI-322341765-8
Purpose: This cookie is set by the company DoubleClick (also owned by Google) to register and report the actions of a user on the website in dealing with advertisements. This allows the effectiveness of advertising to be measured and appropriate optimization measures to be taken. IDE is stored in browsers under the domain doubleclick.net.
Expiration date: after one year

Name: 1P_JAR
Value: 2019-5-14-12
Purpose: This cookie collects statistics on website usage and measures conversions. A conversion occurs, for example, when a user becomes a buyer. The cookie is also used to display relevant advertisements to users. The cookie can also be used to prevent a user from seeing the same ad more than once.
Expiration date: after one month

Name: ANID
Wert: U7j1v3dZa3223417650xgZFmiqWppRWKOr
Purpose: We were unable to find out much information about this cookie. In Google's privacy policy, the cookie is mentioned in connection with "advertising cookies" such as "DSID", "FLC", "AID", "TAID". ANID is stored under domain google.com.
Expiration date: after 9 months

Name: CONSENT
Value:YES+AT.de+20150628-20-0
Purpose: The cookie stores the status of a user's consent to the use of various Google services. CONSENT is also used for security purposes to verify users, prevent fraudulent login information and protect user data from unauthorized attacks.
Expiration date: after 19 years

Name: NID
Wert: 0WmuWqy322341765zILzqV_nmt3sDXwPeM5Q
Purpose: NID is used by Google to customize advertisements to your Google search. With the help of the cookie, Google "remembers" your most frequently entered search queries or your previous interaction with ads. So you always get customized ads. The cookie contains a unique ID to collect the user's personal settings for advertising purposes.
Expiration date: after 6 months

Name: DV
Wert: gEAABBCjJMXcI0dSAAAANbqc322341765-4
Purpose: As soon as you have checked the "I am not a robot" box, this cookie is set. The cookie is used by Google Analytics for personalized advertising. DV collects information in anonymized form and is also used to make user distinctions.
Expiration date: after 10 minutes

Note:This list cannot claim to be exhaustive, as experience has shown that Google changes its choice of cookies from time to time.

How long and where is the data stored?

By inserting reCAPTCHA, data is transferred from you to the Google server. Where exactly this data is stored is not made clear by Google, even after repeated requests. Without having received confirmation from Google, it can be assumed that data such as mouse interaction, time spent on the website or language settings are stored on the European or American Google servers. The IP address that your browser transmits to Google is not merged with other Google data from other Google services. However, if you are logged into your Google account while using the reCAPTCHA plug-in, the data will be merged. Google's differing data protection provisions apply to this.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

If you do not want any data about you and your behavior to be transmitted to Google, you must log out of Google completely and delete all Google cookies before you visit our website or use the reCAPTCHA software. In principle, the data is automatically transmitted to Google as soon as you visit our site. To delete this data, you must contact Google support at https://support.google.com/?hl=de&tid=322341765.

By using our website, you therefore consent to Google LLC and its representatives automatically collecting, processing and using data.

Please note that when you use this tool, your data may also be stored and processed outside the EU. Most third countries (including the USA) are not considered secure under current European data protection law. Data may therefore not simply be transferred to insecure third countries, stored and processed there, unless there are suitable guarantees (such as EU standard contractual clauses) between us and the non-European service provider.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of Google reCAPTCHA, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when Google reCAPTCHA is used.

We also have a legitimate interest in using Google reCAPTCHA to optimize our online service and make it more secure. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use Google reCAPTCHA if you have given your consent.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.

You can find out more about reCAPTCHA on Google's web developer page at https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/. Although Google goes into more detail here about the technical development of reCAPTCHA, you will search in vain for precise information about data storage and data protection issues. A good overview of the basic use of data at Google can be found in the company's own privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Cloud services

What are cloud services?

Cloud services provide us as the website operator with storage space and computing power via the internet. Data can be transferred to an external system, processed and stored via the internet. This data is managed by the corresponding cloud provider. Depending on requirements, an individual person or even a company can choose the amount of storage space or computing power. Cloud storage is accessed via an API or storage protocols. API stands for Application Programming Interface and refers to a programming interface that connects software and hardware components.

Why do we use cloud services?

We use cloud services for several reasons. A cloud service allows us to store our data securely. We also have access to the data from different locations and devices, giving us more flexibility and making our work processes easier. Cloud storage also saves us costs because we don't have to set up and manage our own infrastructure for data storage and data security. By storing our data centrally in the cloud, we can also expand our fields of application and manage our information much better.

As website operators and companies, we therefore primarily use cloud services for our own purposes. For example, we use the services to manage our calendar, store documents or other important information in the cloud. However, your personal data may also be stored in the process. This is the case, for example, if you provide us with your contact details (such as your name and email address) and we store our customer data with a cloud provider. Consequently, data that we process from you may also be stored and processed on external servers. If we offer certain forms or content from cloud services on our website, cookies may also be set for web analytics and advertising purposes. Furthermore, such cookies remember your settings (such as the language used) so that you will find your familiar web environment the next time you visit our website.

What data is processed by cloud services?

Much of the data we store in the cloud has no personal reference, but some data is considered personal data as defined by the GDPR. This often involves customer data such as name, address, IP address or telephone number or technical device information. Videos, images and audio files can also be stored in the cloud. Exactly how the data is collected and stored depends on the respective service. We only try to use services that handle the data in a very trustworthy and professional manner. In principle, the services, such as Amazon Drive, have access to the stored files in order to be able to offer their own service accordingly. However, the services require permissions for this, such as the right to copy files for security reasons. This data is processed and managed as part of the services and in compliance with the applicable laws. This also includes the GDPR for US providers (via the standard contractual clauses). In some cases, these cloud services also work with third-party providers who may process data under instructions and in accordance with the data protection guidelines and other security measures. At this point, we would like to emphasize once again that all known cloud services (such as Amazon Drive, Google Drive or Microsoft Onedrive) obtain the right to access stored content in order to offer and optimize their own service accordingly.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below if we have further information on this. In general, cloud services store data until you or we revoke the data storage or delete the data. In general, personal data is only stored for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of the services. However, it may take several months to permanently delete data from the cloud. This is the case because the data is usually not stored on just one server, but is distributed across various servers.

Right of objection

You also have the right and opportunity to withdraw your consent to data storage in a cloud at any time. If cookies are used, you also have a right of revocation here. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser. We also recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly what data of yours is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective cloud providers.

Legal basis

We use cloud services mainly on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in a good security and storage system.

Certain processing operations, in particular the use of cookies and the use of storage functions, require your consent. If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by cloud services, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). Most of the services we use set cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our data protection text on cookies carefully and view the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

Information on special tools - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Apple iCloud privacy policy

We use Apple iCloud, a cloud service for data storage and data exchange, for our website. The service provider is the American company Apple Inc, Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA.

Apple also processes data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing.

Apple uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing with recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or for data transfer there. These clauses oblige Apple to comply with the EU level of data protection when processing relevant data outside the EU. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Apple iCloud in the Privacy Policy at https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/de-ww/.

Google Cloud privacy policy

We use Google Cloud, an online storage service for files, photos and videos, for our website. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European region, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

Google provides a contract for order processing in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR, which serves as the data protection basis for our customer relationship with Google. The content of this contract refers to the EU standard contractual clauses. You can find the order processing conditions here: https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Google Cloud in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Google Drive privacy policy

We also use the Google Drive cloud service for our business. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European region, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Google Drive in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Payment provider introduction

What is a payment provider?

We use online payment systems on our website that enable us and you to make secure and smooth payments. Among other things, personal data may be sent to the respective payment provider, stored and processed there. Payment providers are online payment systems that enable you to place an order via online banking. Payment processing is carried out by the payment provider you have selected. We then receive information about the payment made. This method can be used by any user who has an active online banking account with PIN and TAN. There are hardly any banks that do not offer or accept such payment methods.

Why do we use payment providers on our website?

We naturally want to offer the best possible service with our website and our integrated online store so that you feel comfortable on our site and make use of our offers. We know that your time is valuable and that payment transactions in particular need to work quickly and smoothly. For these reasons, we offer you various payment providers. You can choose your preferred payment provider and pay in the usual way.

What data is processed?

Exactly which data is processed naturally depends on the payment provider in question. However, data such as name, address, bank details (account number, credit card number, passwords, TANs, etc.) are generally stored. This is necessary data in order to be able to carry out a transaction at all. In addition, any contract data and user data, such as when you visit our website, what content you are interested in or which subpages you click on, may also be stored. Your IP address and information about the computer you are using are also stored by most payment providers.

The data is usually stored and processed on the payment provider's servers. We as the website operator do not receive this data. We are only informed whether the payment has worked or not. For identity and credit checks, payment providers may forward data to the relevant body. The business and data protection principles of the respective provider always apply to all payment transactions. Therefore, please always take a look at the payment provider's general terms and conditions and privacy policy. You also have the right to have data deleted or corrected at any time. Please contact the respective service provider regarding your rights (right of withdrawal, right to information and right to be affected).

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. If it is required by law, for example in the case of accounting, this storage period may also be exceeded. For example, we store accounting documents relating to a contract (invoices, contract documents, account statements, etc.) for 10 years (§ 147 AO) and other relevant business documents for 6 years (§ 247 HGB) after they are created.

Right of objection

You always have the right to information, correction and deletion of your personal data. If you have any questions, you can also contact the person responsible for the payment provider used at any time. Contact details can be found either in our specific privacy policy or on the website of the relevant payment provider.

You can delete, deactivate or manage cookies that payment providers use for their functions in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. Please note, however, that the payment process may then no longer work.

Legal basis

In addition toconventional banking/credit institutions ,we also offer other payment service providers for the processing of contractual or legal relationships (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR). The privacy policies of the individual payment providers (such as Amazon Payments, Apple Pay or Discover) provide you with a detailed overview of data processing and data storage. In addition, you can always contact the responsible parties if you have any questions about data protection issues.

Information on the specific payment providers - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Apple Pay privacy policy

We use Apple Pay, a service for online payment methods, on our website. The service provider is the American company Apple Inc, Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA.

Apple also processes data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing.

Apple uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing with recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. These clauses oblige Apple to comply with the EU level of data protection when processing relevant data outside the EU. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Apple Pay in the privacy policy at https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/de-ww/.

Apple Wallet privacy policy

We use the online payment platform Apple Wallet for our website. The service provider is the American company Apple Inc, Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA.

Apple also processes data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing.

Apple uses standard contractual clauses approved by the EU Commission (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing with recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. These clauses oblige Apple to comply with the EU level of data protection when processing relevant data outside the EU. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Apple Wallet in the privacy policy at https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/de-ww/.

giropay privacy policy

We use the online payment provider giropay on our website. The service provider is the German company paydirekt GmbH, Stephanstraße 14-16, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of giropay in the privacy policy at https://www.giropay.de/agb/index.html.

Google Wallet privacy policy

We use the online payment platform Google Wallet for our website. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European region, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The data processing terms for Google advertising products (Google Ads Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms), which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms/.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Google Wallet in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Sofortüberweisung privacy policy

What is an "instant bank transfer"?

We offer the "Sofortüberweisung" payment method from Sofort GmbH for cashless payment on our website. Sofort GmbH has been part of the Swedish company Klarna since 2014, but has its registered office in Germany, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339 Munich.

If you choose this payment method, personal data will be transmitted to Sofort GmbH or Klarna, stored and processed there. This data protection text provides you with an overview of data processing by Sofort GmbH.

Sofortüberweisung is an online payment system that allows you to place an order via online banking. Payment processing is carried out by Sofort GmbH and we immediately receive information about the payment made. This method can be used by any user who has an active online banking account with PIN and TAN. Only a few banks do not yet support this payment method.

Why do we use "Sofortüberweisung" on our website?

Our aim with our website and our integrated online store is to offer you the best possible service. In addition to the overall experience on the website and our offers, this also includes smooth, fast and secure payment processing of your orders. To ensure this, we use "Sofortüberweisung" as our payment system.

What data is stored by "Sofortüberweisung"?

When you make an instant bank transfer via the Sofort/Klarna service, data such as name, account number, bank code, subject, amount and date are stored on the company's servers. We also receive this information via the payment confirmation.

As part of the account coverage check, Sofort GmbH checks whether your account balance and overdraft facility cover the payment amount. In some cases, it is also checked whether Sofort transfers have been successfully carried out in the last 30 days. Furthermore, your user identification (such as user number or contract number) is collected and stored in abbreviated ("hashed") form and your IP address. For SEPA transfers, the BIC and IBAN are also stored.

According to the company, no other personal data (such as account balances, turnover data, transaction limits, account lists, cell phone number, authentication certificates, security codes or PIN/TAN) is collected, stored or passed on to third parties.

Sofortüberweisung also uses cookies to make its own service more user-friendly. When you order a product, you will be redirected to the Sofort or Klarna website. After successful payment, you will be redirected to our thank you page. The following three cookies are set here:

Name: SOFUEB
Wert: e8cipp378mdscn9e17kajlfhv7322341765-5
Purpose: This cookie stores your session ID.
Expiration date: after the end of the browser session

Name: User[user_cookie_rules]
Value: 1
Purpose: This cookie stores your consent to the use of cookies.
Expiration date: after 10 years

Name: _ga
Wert: GA1.2.69759879.1589470706
Purpose: By default, analytics.js uses the _ga cookie to store the user ID. It is basically used to distinguish between website visitors. This is a cookie from Google Analytics.
Expiration date: after 2 years

Note: The cookies listed here do not claim to be exhaustive. It is always possible that Sofortüberweisung also uses other cookies.

How long and where is the data stored?

All data collected is stored within the legal retention period. This obligation can last between three and ten years.

Klarna/Sofort GmbH tries to store data only within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA). If data is transferred outside the EU/EEA, the data protection must comply with the GDPR and the country must be in an adequacy decision of the EU.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

You can withdraw your consent for Klarna to process personal data at any time. You also always have the right to information, correction and deletion of your personal data. To do this, you can simply contact the company's data protection team by sending an email to datenschutz@sofort.com.

You can manage, delete or deactivate any cookies that Sofortüberweisung uses in your browser. Depending on your preferred browser, this works in different ways. Under the section "Cookies" you will find the corresponding links to the respective instructions for the most popular browsers.

Legal basis

We therefore offer the payment service provider Sofortüberweisung in addition tothe conventional banking/credit institutions for the processing of contractual or legal relationships (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR). The successful use of the service also requires your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) , insofar as the use of cookies is necessary.

If you would like to find out more about data processing by Sofort GmbH's "Sofortüberweisung", we recommend that you read the privacy policy at https://cdn.klarna.com/1.0/shared/content/legal/terms/en/bt_payment_data_privacy.

Stripe privacy policy

What is Stripe?

We use a payment tool from the American technology company and online payment service Stripe on our website. For customers within the EU, Stripe Payments Europe (Europe Ltd., 1 Grand Canal Street Lower, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, Ireland) is responsible. This means that if you choose Stripe as your payment method, your payment will be processed via Stripe Payments. The data required for the payment process will be forwarded to Stripe and stored. In this privacy policy, we provide you with an overview of this data processing and storage by Stripe and explain why we use Stripe on our website.

The technology company Stripe offers payment solutions for online payments. With Stripe it is possible to accept credit and debit card payments in our webshop. Stripe takes care of the entire payment process. A major advantage of Stripe is that you never have to leave our website or the store during the payment process and the payment is processed very quickly.

Why do we use Stripe for our website?

We naturally want to offer the best possible service with our website and our integrated online store so that you feel comfortable on our site and take advantage of our offers. We know that your time is precious and that payment processes in particular need to work quickly and smoothly. In addition to our other payment providers, we have found a partner in Stripe that guarantees secure and fast payment processing.

What data is stored by Stripe?

If you choose Stripe as your payment method, your personal data will also be transmitted to Stripe and stored there. This is transaction data. This data includes the payment method (i.e. credit card, debit card or account number), bank code, currency, amount and date of payment. During a transaction, your name, e-mail address, billing or shipping address and sometimes your transaction history may also be transmitted. This data is required for authentication. Furthermore, Stripe may also collect your name, address, telephone number and country in addition to technical data about your device (such as IP address) for fraud prevention, financial reporting and to be able to offer its own services in full.

Stripe does not sell any of your data to independent third parties, such as marketing agencies or other companies that have nothing to do with the Stripe company. However, the data may be shared with internal departments, a limited number of external Stripe partners or to comply with legal requirements. Stripe also uses cookies to collect data. Here you will find a selection of cookies that Stripe can set during the payment process:

Name: m
Wert: edd716e9-d28b-46f7-8a55-e05f1779e84e040456322341765-5
Purpose: This cookie appears when you select the payment method. It stores and recognizes whether you are accessing our website via a PC, tablet or smartphone.
Expiration date: after 2 years

Name: __stripe_mid
Wert: fc30f52c-b006-4722-af61-a7419a5b8819875de9322341765-1
Purpose: This cookie is required to carry out a credit card transaction. The cookie stores your session ID for this purpose.
Expiration date: after one year

Name: __stripe_sid
Wert: 6fee719a-c67c-4ed2-b583-6a9a50895b122753fe
Purpose: This cookie also stores your ID and is used by Stripe for the payment process on our website.
Expiration date: after the session has expired

How long and where is the data stored?

Personal data is generally stored for the duration of the service provision. This means that the data is stored until we terminate the cooperation with Stripe. However, in order to comply with legal and regulatory obligations, Stripe may also store personal data beyond the duration of the service provision. As Stripe is a global company, data may also be stored in any country where Stripe provides services. This means that data may also be stored outside your country, for example in the USA.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

Please note that when using this tool, your data may also be stored and processed outside the EU. Most third countries (including the USA) are not considered secure under current European data protection law. Data may therefore not simply be transferred to insecure third countries, stored and processed there, unless there are suitable guarantees (such as EU standard contractual clauses) between us and the non-European service provider.

You always have the right to information, correction and deletion of your personal data. If you have any questions, you can also contact the Stripe team at https://support.stripe.com/contact/email at any time.

You can delete, deactivate or manage cookies that Stripe uses for its functions in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. Under the section "Cookies" you will find the corresponding links to the respective instructions for the most popular browsers.

Legal basis

We therefore offer the payment service provider Stripe in addition to the conventional banking/credit institutions for the processing of contractual or legal relationships (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR). The successful use of the service also requires your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR), insofar as the use of cookies is necessary.

Stripe also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Stripe is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, Stripe uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Stripe undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

You can find more information about the standard contractual clauses and the data that is processed through the use of Stripe in the privacy policy at https://stripe.com/at/privacy.

Visa privacy policy

We use Visa, a global payment provider, on our website. The service provider is the American company Visa Inc. Visa Europe Services Inc. (1 Sheldon Square, London W2 6TT, United Kingdom) is responsible for the European region.

Visa also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing.

Visa uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing with recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or for data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Visa undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find more information on Visa's standard contractual clauses at https://www.visa.de/nutzungsbedingungen/visa-globale-datenschutzmitteilung/mitteilung-zu-zustandigkeitsfragen-fur-den-ewr.html.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Visa in the privacy policy at https://www.visa.de/nutzungsbedingungen/visa-privacy-center.html.

External online platforms Introduction

What are external online platforms?

We also use external platforms to offer our services or products outside of our website. These are usually online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay. In addition to our responsibility for data protection, the data protection provisions of the external platforms we use also apply. This is particularly the case if our products are purchased via the platform. In other words, if there is a payment process. Furthermore, most platforms also use your data to optimize their own marketing measures. For example, the platform can use the data collected to tailor advertisements precisely to the interests of customers and website visitors.

Why do we use external online platforms?

In addition to our website, we also want to offer our products on other platforms in order to bring our range closer to more customers. External online marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay or Digistore24 offer large sales websites that offer our products to people who may not be familiar with our website. It may also be the case that built-in elements on our site redirect to an external online platform. Data that is processed and stored by the online platform used is used by the company to record the payment process on the one hand and to carry out web analyses on the other.

The aim of these analyses is to be able to develop more precise and personalized marketing and advertising strategies. Depending on your behavior on a platform, the evaluated data can be used to draw conclusions about your interests and create so-called user profiles. This also enables the platforms to present you with customized advertisements or products. Cookies are usually set in your browser for this purpose, which store data on your usage behavior.

Please note that when you use the platforms or our built-in elements, your data may also be processed outside the European Union, as online platforms such as Amazon or eBay are American companies. As a result, you may not be able to claim or enforce your rights in relation to your personal data as easily.

What data is processed?

Exactly what data is stored and processed depends on the external platform in question. But it is usually data such as telephone numbers, email addresses, data you enter in a contact form, user data such as which buttons you click, when you visited which pages, information about your device and your IP address. Very often, most of this data is stored in cookies. If you have your own profile on an external platform and are also logged in there, data can be linked to the profile. The data collected is stored on the servers of the platforms used and processed there. You can find out exactly how an external platform stores, manages and processes data in the respective privacy policy. If you have any questions about data storage and data processing or wish to assert corresponding rights, we recommend that you contact the platform directly.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below if we have further information on this. For example, Amazon stores data until it is no longer required for its own purposes. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products.

Right to object

You also have the right and opportunity to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via opt-out functions on the respective external platform. You can also prevent the collection of data by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.

As cookies may be used, we also recommend that you read our general privacy policy on cookies. To find out exactly which of your data is stored and processed, you should read the privacy policies of the respective external platforms.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by external platforms, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of a legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners if you have given your consent. If we have integrated elements of external platforms on our website, we will only use them if you have given your consent.

You can find information on specific external platforms - if available - in the following sections.

Canva privacy policy

We use Canva, an online platform for graphic design, for our website. The service provider is the Australian company Canva Pty Ltd, 110 Kippax Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia.

Data processing also takes place in Australia. Australia is a third country outside the scope of the GDPR. There is currently no adequacy decision for Australia pursuant to Art. 45 (1) GDPR. This may entail various risks for the lawfulness and security of data processing.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Canva in the privacy policy at https://www.canva.com/policies/privacy-policy/.

Audio & Video Introduction

What are audio and video elements?

We have integrated audio and video elements on our website so that you can watch videos or listen to music/podcasts directly via our website. The content is provided by service providers. All content is therefore also obtained from the corresponding servers of the providers.

These are integrated functional elements from platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo or Spotify. The use of these portals is usually free of charge, but paid content can also be published. With the help of these integrated elements, you can listen to or view the respective content via our website.

If you use audio or video elements on our website, your personal data may also be transmitted to the service providers, processed and stored.

Why do we use audio & video elements on our website?

Of course we want to provide you with the best offer on our website. And we are aware that content is no longer just conveyed in text and static images. Instead of simply giving you a link to a video, we offer you audio and video formats directly on our website that are entertaining or informative and ideally even both. This expands our service and makes it easier for you to access interesting content. We therefore offer video and/or audio content in addition to our texts and images.

What data is stored by audio & video elements?

When you access a page on our website that has an embedded video, for example, your server connects to the server of the service provider. Your data is also transmitted to the third-party provider and stored there. Some data is collected and stored regardless of whether you have an account with the third-party provider or not. This usually includes your IP address, browser type, operating system and other general information about your end device. In addition, most providers also collect information about your web activity. This includes, for example, session duration, bounce rate, which button you clicked on or which website you used to access the service. All this information is usually stored using cookies or pixel tags (also known as web beacons). Pseudonymized data is usually stored in cookies in your browser. You can always find out exactly which data is stored and processed in the privacy policy of the respective provider.

Duration of data processing

You can find out exactly how long the data is stored on the servers of the third-party providers either below in the data protection text of the respective tool or in the provider's privacy policy. In principle, personal data is only ever processed for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services or products. This generally also applies to third-party providers. In most cases, you can assume that certain data will be stored on the servers of third-party providers for several years. Data can be stored for different lengths of time, especially in cookies. Some cookies are deleted as soon as you leave the website, while others may be stored in your browser for several years.

Right to object

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser. The lawfulness of the processing until the revocation remains unaffected.

Since the integrated audio and video functions on our website usually also use cookies, you should also read our general privacy policy on cookies. You can find out more about the handling and storage of your data in the privacy policies of the respective third-party providers.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated audio and video elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data is also stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners. Nevertheless, we only use the integrated audio and video elements if you have given your consent.

Vidyard privacy policy

We use the Vidyard video platform for our website. The service provider is the Canadian company Buildscale Inc, 1 Queen St. N, Unit #301, Kitchener, ON, Canada.

Your data may also be processed in Canada and thus outside the scope of the GDPR. The European Commission has decided that an adequate level of protection exists for commercial offers from Canada in accordance with Art. 45 para. 1 GDPR. This means that data transfer to this country is permitted. You can view the decision here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0002

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Vidyard in the privacy policy at https://www.vidyard.com/privacy/.

Vimeo privacy policy

What is Vimeo?

We also use videos from Vimeo on our website. The video portal is operated by Vimeo LLC, 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA. With the help of a plug-in, we can show you interesting video material directly on our website. Certain data may be transferred from you to Vimeo. In this privacy policy, we show you what data is involved, why we use Vimeo and how you can manage or prevent your data or data transmission.

Vimeo is a video platform that was founded in 2004 and has enabled the streaming of videos in HD quality since 2007. Since 2015, it has also been possible to stream in 4k Ultra HD. The portal is free to use, but paid content can also be published. Compared to the market leader YouTube, Vimeo prioritizes high-quality content in good quality. For example, the portal offers a lot of artistic content such as music videos and short films, but also interesting documentaries on a wide range of topics.

Why do we use Vimeo on our website?

The aim of our website is to provide you with the best possible content. And as easily accessible as possible. Only when we have achieved this are we satisfied with our service. The video service Vimeo helps us to achieve this goal. Vimeo gives us the opportunity to present you with high-quality content directly on our website. Instead of just giving you a link to an interesting video, you can watch the video directly on our site. This expands our service and makes it easier for you to access interesting content. In addition to our texts and images, we also offer video content.

What data is stored on Vimeo?

When you visit a page on our website that has a Vimeo video embedded, your browser connects to the Vimeo servers. This results in a data transfer. This data is collected, stored and processed on the Vimeo servers. Regardless of whether you have a Vimeo account or not, Vimeo collects data about you. This includes your IP address, technical information about your browser type, your operating system or very basic device information. Furthermore, Vimeo stores information about which website you use the Vimeo service and which actions (web activities) you perform on our website. These web activities include, for example, session duration, bounce rate or which button you clicked on our website with built-in Vimeo function. Vimeo can track and store these actions with the help of cookies and similar technologies.

If you are logged in to Vimeo as a registered member, more data can usually be collected, as more cookies may already have been set in your browser. In addition, your actions on our website will be linked directly to your Vimeo account. To prevent this, you must log out of Vimeo while "surfing" on our website.

Below we show you the cookies that are set by Vimeo when you are on a website with an integrated Vimeo function. This list is not exhaustive and assumes that you do not have a Vimeo account.

Name: player
Value:""
Purpose: This cookie saves your settings before you play an embedded Vimeo video. This means that the next time you watch a Vimeo video, you will get your preferred settings again.
Expiration date: after one year

Name: vuid
Value:pl1046149876.614422590322341765-4
Purpose: This cookie collects information about your actions on websites that have embedded a Vimeo video.
Expiry date: after 2 years

Note: These two cookies are always set as soon as you are on a website with an embedded Vimeo video. If you watch the video and click on the button, for example to "share" or "like" the video, further cookies are set. These are also third-party cookies such as _ga or _gat_UA-76641-8 from Google Analytics or _fbp from Facebook. Exactly which cookies are set here depends on your interaction with the video.

The following list shows a selection of possible cookies that are set when you interact with the Vimeo video:

Name: _abexps
Value: %5B%5D
Purpose:This Vimeo cookie helps Vimeo to remember the settings you have made. This can be, for example, a preset language, a region or a user name. In general, the cookie stores data about how you use Vimeo.
Expiration date: after one year

Name: continuous_play_v3
Value: 1
Purpose:This cookie is a first-party cookie from Vimeo. The cookie collects information about how you use the Vimeo service. For example, the cookie stores when you pause or play a video.
Expiration date: after one year

Name: _ga
Wert: GA1.2.1522249635.1578401280322341765-7
Purpose:This cookie is a third-party cookie from Google. By default, analytics.js uses the _ga cookie to store the user ID. Basically, it is used to distinguish website visitors.
Expiration date: after 2 years

Name: _gcl_au
Wert: 1.1.770887836.1578401279322341765-3
Purpose: This third-party cookie from Google AdSense is used to improve the efficiency of advertisements on websites.
Expiration date: after 3 months

Name: _fbp
Wert: fb.1.1578401280585.310434968
Purpose: This is a Facebook cookie. This cookie is used to display advertisements or advertising products from Facebook or other advertisers.
Expiration date: after 3 months

Vimeo uses this data, among other things, to improve its own service, to communicate with you and to implement its own targeted advertising measures. Vimeo emphasizes on its website that only first-party cookies (i.e. cookies from Vimeo itself) are used for embedded videos as long as you do not interact with the video.

How long and where is the data stored?

Vimeo is headquartered in White Plains in the state of New York (USA). However, the services are offered worldwide. The company uses computer systems, databases and servers in the USA and also in other countries. Your data can therefore also be stored and processed on servers in America. The data remains stored by Vimeo until the company no longer has a commercial reason for storing it. The data is then deleted or anonymized.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

You always have the option of managing cookies in your browser according to your wishes. For example, if you do not want Vimeo to set cookies and thus collect information about you, you can delete or deactivate cookies in your browser settings at any time. This works a little differently depending on your browser. Please note that various functions may no longer be fully available after deactivating/deleting cookies. In the "Cookies" section, you will find the relevant links to the instructions for the most popular browsers.

If you are a registered Vimeo member, you can also manage the cookies used in the Vimeo settings.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by integrated Vimeo elements, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In principle, your data is also stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners. Nevertheless, we only use the integrated Vimeo elements if you have given your consent. Vimeo also sets cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our data protection text on cookies carefully and consult the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

Vimeo also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfer to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing.

Vimeo uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing with recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer there. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Vimeo undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among others: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses at Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/privacy#international_data_transfers_and_certain_user_rights.

You can find out more about the use of cookies at Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/cookie_policy, information on data protection at Vimeo can be found athttps://vimeo.com/privacy.

Wistia privacy policy

We use the video marketing platform Wistia on our website. The service provider is the American company Wistia Inc, 120 Brookline Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.

Wistia also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Wistia is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, Wistia uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Wistia undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

You can find out more about the data and standard contractual clauses that are processed through the use of Wistia in the privacy policy at https://wistia.com/privacy.

Video conferencing & streaming introduction

What are video conferencing & streaming?

We use software programs that enable us to hold video conferences, online meetings, webinars, display sharing and/or streaming. In a video conference or streaming, information is transmitted simultaneously via sound and moving images. With the help of such video conferencing or streaming tools, we can communicate with customers, business partners, clients and even employees quickly and easily via the Internet. When selecting the service provider, we naturally pay attention to the specified legal framework conditions.

In principle, third-party providers can process data as soon as you interact with the software program. Third-party providers of video conferencing and streaming solutions use your data and metadata for various purposes. For example, the data helps to make the tool more secure and to improve the service. In most cases, the data may also be used for the third-party provider's own marketing purposes.

Why do we use video conferencing & streaming on our website?

We want to communicate with you, our customers and business partners quickly, easily and securely, including digitally. This works best with video conferencing solutions that are very easy to use. Most tools also work directly via your browser and after just a few clicks you are right in the middle of a video meeting. The tools also offer helpful additional features such as a chat and screen sharing function or the option to share content between meeting participants.

What data is processed?

When you take part in our video conference or streaming, your data is also processed and stored on the servers of the respective service provider.

Exactly which data is stored depends on the solutions used. Each provider stores and processes a different amount of data. As a rule, however, most providers store your name, address, contact details such as your email address or telephone number and your IP address. Information about the device you are using, usage data such as which websites you visit, when you visit a website or which buttons you click on may also be stored. Data that is shared within the video conference (photos, videos, texts) may also be stored.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you about the duration of data processing below in connection with the service used, if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. The provider may store your data according to its own specifications, over which we have no influence.

Right to object

You always have the right to information, correction and deletion of your personal data. If you have any questions, you can also contact the person responsible for the video conferencing or streaming tool used at any time. Contact details can be found either in our specific privacy policy or on the website of the relevant provider.

You can delete, deactivate or manage cookies that providers use for their functions in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this works in different ways. Please note, however, that not all functions may then work as usual.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by the video or streaming solution, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In addition, we can also offer a video conference as part of our services if this has been contractually agreed with you in advance (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners, but only if you have at least given your consent. Most video and streaming solutions also set cookies in your browser to store data. We therefore recommend that you read our data protection text on cookies carefully and consult the privacy policy or cookie guidelines of the respective service provider.

Information on special video conferencing and streaming solutions, if available, can be found in the following sections.

Cisco WebEx privacy policy

We use Cisco WebEx on our website, a service for online meetings and video conferences. The service provider is the American company Cisco Systems, Inc, Legal Department, 170 West Tasman Dr., San Jose, CA 95134 USA.

Cisco also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Cisco is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Cisco also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Cisco undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find out more about the data and standard contractual clauses that are processed by using Cisco in the privacy policy at https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/legal/privacy-full.html.

Google Meet privacy policy

We use Google Meet from Google Inc. on our website. Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services in Europe.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Google Meet in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Data processing agreement (DPA) Google Meet

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with Google in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because Google processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that Google may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://workspace.google.com/terms/dpa_terms.html.

Microsoft Teams privacy policy

We use Microsoft Teams on our website, a service for online meetings and video conferencing. The service provider is the American company Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA.

Microsoft also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Microsoft is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Microsoft also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Microsoft undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses at Microsoft at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-eu-model-clauses

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Microsoft in the privacy policy at https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement.

Zoom privacy policy

What is Zoom?

We use the Zoom video conferencing tool from the American software company Zoom Video Communications for our website. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California, 55 Almaden Boulevard, 6th Floor, CA 95113. Thanks to Zoom, we can easily hold video conferences with customers, business partners, clients and employees without installing any software. In this privacy policy, we go into more detail about the service and inform you about the most important aspects relevant to data protection.

Zoom is one of the world's best-known video conferencing solutions. With the "Zoom Meetings" service, we can hold an online video conference with you, for example, but also with employees or other users via a digital conference room. This makes it very easy for us to get in touch digitally, discuss various topics, send text messages or even make phone calls. Zoom can also be used to share the screen, exchange files and use a whiteboard.

Why do we use Zoom on our website?

It is important to us that we can communicate with you quickly and easily. And this is exactly what Zoom offers us. The software program also works directly via a browser. This means we can simply send you a link and start the video conference. Of course, additional functions such as screen sharing or file exchange are also very practical.

What data is stored by Zoom?

When you use Zoom, data is also collected from you so that Zoom can provide its services. On the one hand, this is data that you consciously provide to the company. This includes, for example, your name, telephone number or e-mail address. However, data is also automatically transmitted to Zoom and stored. This includes, for example, technical data from your browser or your IP address. In the following, we will go into more detail about the data that Zoom can collect and store from you:

If you enter data such as your name, your user name, your e-mail address or your telephone number, this data will be stored by Zoom. Content that you upload while using Zoom is also stored. This includes, for example, files or chat logs.

In addition to the IP address mentioned above, the technical data that Zoom automatically stores includes the MAC address, other device IDs, device type, operating system you are using, client you are using, camera type, microphone and speaker type. Your approximate location is also determined and stored. Zoom also stores information about how you use the service. For example, whether you "zoom" via desktop or smartphone, whether you use a phone call or VoIP, whether you participate with or without video or whether you request a password. Zoom also records so-called metadata such as the duration of the meeting/call, start and end of the meeting participation, meeting name and chat status.

Zoom mentions in its own privacy policy that the company does not use advertising cookies or tracking technologies for its services. These tracking methods are only used on its own marketing websites, such as https://explore.zoom.us/docs/de-de/home.html. Zoom does not resell personal data and does not use it for advertising purposes.

How long and where is the data stored?

Zoom does not provide a specific time frame in this regard, but emphasizes that the data collected is stored for as long as is necessary to provide the services or for its own purposes. The data will only be stored for longer if this is required for legal reasons.

In principle, Zoom stores the collected data on American servers, but data can arrive at different data centers worldwide.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

If you do not want data to be stored during the Zoom meeting, you must refrain from attending the meeting. However, you always have the right and the option to have all your personal data deleted. If you have a Zoom account, you can find instructions on how to delete your account at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201363243-How-Do-I-Delete-Terminate-My-Account.

Please note that when using this tool, your data may also be stored and processed outside the EU. Most third countries (including the USA) are not considered secure under current European data protection law. Data may therefore not simply be transferred to insecure third countries, stored and processed there, unless there are suitable guarantees (such as EU standard contractual clauses) between us and the non-European service provider.

Legal basis

If you have consented to your data being processed and stored by the video or streaming solution, this consent is the legal basis for data processing (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In addition, we can also offer a video conference as part of our services if this has been contractually agreed with you in advance (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR). In principle, your data will also be stored and processed on the basis of our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in fast and good communication with you or other customers and business partners, but only if you have at least given your consent.

Zoom also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Zoom is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Zoom also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Zoom undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

We hope that we have provided you with an overview of data processing by Zoom. Of course, it is always possible that the company's data protection guidelines may change. Therefore, for more information on the data processed and the standard contractual clauses, we recommend that you also read Zoom's privacy policy at https://explore.zoom.us/de/privacy/.

Data processing agreement (DPA) Zoom

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with Zoom in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because Zoom processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that Zoom may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://explore.zoom.us/docs/doc/Zoom_GLOBAL_DPA.pdf.

Rating platforms Introduction

What are rating platforms?

You can rate our products or services on various rating platforms. We participate in some of these platforms so that we can receive feedback from you and thus optimize our offer. If you rate us via a rating platform, the privacy policy and general terms and conditions of the respective rating service apply. Very often you will also need to register in order to submit a review. Evaluation technologies (widgets) can also be integrated into our website. By using such an integrated tool, data is also transferred to the corresponding provider, processed and stored.

Many of these integrated programs work on a similar principle. After you have ordered a product or used a service from us, you will be asked to submit a review by e-mail or on the website. You are usually redirected to a review page via a link and can quickly and easily create a review there. Some rating systems also offer an interface to various social media channels to make the feedback accessible to more people.

Why do we use review platforms?

Rating platforms collect feedback and ratings about our offers. Your reviews provide us with quick feedback and enable us to improve our products and/or services much more efficiently. The reviews therefore help us to optimize our offers on the one hand and on the other hand they give you and all our future customers a good overview of the quality of our products and services.

What data is processed?

With your consent, we transmit information about you and the services you have used to the relevant review platform. We do this to ensure that you have actually used one of our services. Only then can you provide genuine feedback. The transmitted data is only used for user recognition. Exactly which data is stored and processed depends, of course, on the providers used. In most cases, the review platforms are also provided with personal data such as IP address, e-mail address or your name. Order information, such as the order number of a purchased item, is also forwarded to the relevant platform after you have submitted your review. If your e-mail address is transmitted, this is done so that the review platform can send you an e-mail after you have purchased a product. So that we can also incorporate your review into our website, we also provide the providers with the information that you have accessed our site. The review platform used is responsible for the personal data collected.

How long and where is the data stored?

You can find out more about the duration of data processing below in the provider's privacy policy, if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products. Personal data mentioned in a review is usually anonymized by employees of the platform used and is therefore only visible to administrators of the company. The data collected is stored on the provider's servers and is deleted by most providers once the order has been completed.

Right of objection

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. For example, you can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of an evaluation platform, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by a rating portal.

We also have a legitimate interest in using a review platform to optimize our online service. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use an evaluation platform if you have given your consent.

We hope we have been able to provide you with the most important general information about data processing by rating platforms. You can find more detailed information below in the data protection texts or in the linked data protection declarations of the company.

Google customer reviews privacy policy

We also use the Google Customer Reviews rating platform for our website. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European area, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The data processing terms for Google advertising products (Google Ads Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms), which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Google in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Web design introduction

What is web design?

We use various tools on our website that serve our web design. Web design is not, as is often assumed, just about making our website look pretty, but also about functionality and performance. But of course the right look of a website is also one of the major goals of professional web design. Web design is a branch of media design and deals with the visual as well as the structural and functional design of a website. The aim of web design is to improve your experience on our website. In web design jargon, this is referred to as user experience (UX) and usability. User experience refers to all impressions and experiences that website visitors have on a website. Usability is a sub-item of user experience. This is about the user-friendliness of a website. The main focus here is on ensuring that content, subpages or products are clearly structured and that you can find what you are looking for quickly and easily. In order to offer you the best possible experience on our website, we also use third-party web design tools. In this privacy policy, the category "web design" therefore includes all services that improve the design of our website. These can be, for example, fonts, various plugins or other integrated web design functions.

Why do we use web design tools?

How you take in information on a website depends very much on the structure, functionality and visual perception of the website. Therefore, good and professional web design has become increasingly important for us. We are constantly working on improving our website and also see this as an extended service for you as a website visitor. Furthermore, a beautiful and functioning website also has economic advantages for us. After all, you will only visit us and make use of our services if you feel completely at ease.

What data is stored by web design tools?

When you visit our website, web design elements may be integrated into our pages that can also process data. Exactly what data is involved naturally depends heavily on the tools used. Below you can see exactly which tools we use for our website. For more detailed information about data processing, we recommend that you also read the respective privacy policies of the tools used. In most cases, this will tell you what data is processed, whether cookies are used and how long the data is stored. Fonts such as Google Fonts also automatically transmit information such as language settings, IP address, browser version, browser screen resolution and browser name to the Google servers.

Duration of data processing

How long data is processed is very individual and depends on the web design elements used. If cookies are used, for example, the storage period can be as short as one minute or as long as a few years. Please find out more about this. We recommend that you read our general text section on cookies as well as the data protection declarations of the tools used. There you can usually find out exactly which cookies are used and what information is stored in them. Google font files, for example, are stored for one year. This is to improve the loading time of a website. In principle, data is only stored for as long as is necessary to provide the service. Data can also be stored for longer if required by law.

Right to object

You also have the right and the option to withdraw your consent to the use of cookies or third-party providers at any time. This works either via our cookie management tool or via other opt-out functions. You can also prevent data collection by cookies by managing, deactivating or deleting cookies in your browser. Under web design elements (mostly fonts), however, there is also data that cannot be deleted quite so easily. This is the case when data is automatically collected directly when a page is accessed and transmitted to a third-party provider (such as Google). In this case, please contact the support of the relevant provider. In the case of Google, you can contact support at https://support.google.com/?hl=de.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of web design tools, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by web design tools. We also have a legitimate interest in improving the web design on our website. After all, only then can we provide you with an attractive and professional website. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use web design tools if you have given your consent. We would like to emphasize this again here in any case.

Information on special web design tools - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Adobe Fonts privacy policy

We use Adobe Fonts, a web font hosting service, on our website. The service provider is the American company Adobe Inc. The Irish company Adobe Systems Software Ireland Companies, 4-6 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland, is responsible for the European region.

Adobe also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Adobe is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Adobe also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Adobe undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses at Adobe at https://www.adobe.com/at/privacy/eudatatransfers.html.

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Adobe Fonts in the privacy policy at https://www.adobe.com/at/privacy.html .

DWFormmailer privacy policy

We use the web form creation software DWFormmailer for our website. The service provider is the German company DIS dürr-internet-service, In den Kehlen 4, 97342 Marktsteft, Germany.

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of DWFormmailer in the privacy policy at https://www.dw-formmailer.de/index.php?action=datenschutz.

Google Fonts privacy policy

What are Google Fonts?

We use Google Fonts on our website. These are the "Google fonts" of Google Inc. For the European area, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

You do not need to log in or enter a password to use Google fonts. Furthermore, no cookies are stored in your browser. The files (CSS, fonts) are requested via the Google domains fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com. According to Google, requests for CSS and fonts are completely separate from all other Google services. If you have a Google account, you do not need to worry that your Google account data will be transmitted to Google while using Google Fonts. Google records the use of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and the fonts used and stores this data securely. We will take a closer look at exactly how the data is stored.

Google Fonts (formerly Google Web Fonts) is a directory of over 800 fonts that Google makes available to its users free of charge.

Many of these fonts are published under the SIL Open Font License, while others are published under the Apache license. Both are free software licenses.

Why do we use Google Fonts on our website?

With Google Fonts, we can use fonts on our own website without having to upload them to our own server. Google Fonts is an important component in keeping the quality of our website high. All Google fonts are automatically optimized for the web and this saves data volume and is a great advantage, especially for use on mobile devices. When you visit our site, the low file size ensures a fast loading time. Furthermore, Google Fonts are secure web fonts. Different image synthesis systems (rendering) in different browsers, operating systems and mobile devices can lead to errors. Such errors can sometimes visually distort texts or entire websites. Thanks to the fast Content Delivery Network (CDN), there are no cross-platform problems with Google Fonts. Google Fonts supports all common browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera) and works reliably on most modern mobile operating systems, including Android 2.2+ and iOS 4.2+ (iPhone, iPad, iPod). We use Google Fonts so that we can present our entire online service as beautifully and uniformly as possible.

What data is stored by Google?

When you visit our website, the fonts are loaded via a Google server. This external call transmits data to the Google server. In this way, Google also recognizes that you or your IP address is visiting our website. The Google Fonts API was developed to reduce the use, storage and collection of end user data to what is necessary for the proper provision of fonts. Incidentally, API stands for "Application Programming Interface" and serves, among other things, as a data transmitter in the software sector.

Google Fonts stores CSS and font requests securely at Google and is therefore protected. Google can use the collected usage figures to determine how well the individual fonts are received. Google publishes the results on internal analysis pages, such as Google Analytics. Google also uses data from its own web crawler to determine which websites use Google fonts. This data is published in the Google Fonts BigQuery database. Entrepreneurs and developers use the Google web service BigQuery to analyze and move large amounts of data.

However, it should be noted that every Google Font request also automatically transfers information such as language settings, IP address, browser version, browser screen resolution and browser name to the Google servers. It is not clear whether this data is also stored or whether it is clearly communicated by Google.

How long and where is the data stored?

Google stores requests for CSS assets for one day on its servers, which are mainly located outside the EU. This enables us to use the fonts with the help of a Google stylesheet. A stylesheet is a format template that can be used to quickly and easily change the design or font of a website, for example.

The font files are stored by Google for one year. Google's aim is to fundamentally improve the loading time of websites. If millions of websites refer to the same fonts, they are cached after the first visit and immediately reappear on all other websites visited later. Sometimes Google updates font files to reduce the file size, increase language coverage and improve the design.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

The data that Google stores for one day or one year cannot simply be deleted. The data is automatically transmitted to Google when the page is accessed. To delete this data prematurely, you must contact Google support at https://support.google.com/?hl=de&tid=322341765. In this case, you can only prevent data storage if you do not visit our site.

Unlike other web fonts, Google allows us unrestricted access to all fonts. We can therefore access an unlimited number of fonts and thus get the best out of our website. You can find out more about Google Fonts and other issues at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq?tid=322341765. Although Google addresses data protection issues there, it does not provide any really detailed information about data storage. It is relatively difficult to get really precise information from Google about stored data.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of Google Fonts, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when Google Fonts is used.

We also have a legitimate interest in using Google Fonts to optimize our online service. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use Google Font if you have given your consent.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.

You can also find out which data is generally collected by Google and what this data is used for at https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

Google Fonts Local Privacy Policy

We use Google Fonts from Google Inc. on our website. Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for the European region. We have integrated the Google fonts locally, i.e. on our web server - not on Google's servers. This means that there is no connection to Google servers and therefore no data transfer or storage.

What are Google Fonts?

Google Fonts used to also be called Google Web Fonts. This is an interactive directory with over 800 fonts that Google provides free of charge. With Google Fonts, you could use fonts without uploading them to your own server. However, in order to prevent any transfer of information to Google servers in this respect, we have downloaded the fonts to our server. In this way, we act in compliance with data protection regulations and do not send any data to Google Fonts.

Online map services Introduction

What are online map services?

We also use online map services for our website as an extended service. Google Maps is probably the service you are most familiar with, but there are also other providers that specialize in creating digital maps. Such services make it possible to display locations, route plans or other geographical information directly via our website. With an integrated map service, you no longer have to leave our website to view the route to a location, for example. In order for the online map to work on our website, map sections are integrated using HTML code. The services can then display street maps, the earth's surface or aerial or satellite images. If you use the integrated map service, data is also transferred to the tool used and stored there. This data may also include personal data.

Why do we use online map services on our website?

Generally speaking, our aim is to offer you a pleasant time on our website. And your time is of course only enjoyable if you can easily find your way around our website and find all the information you need quickly and easily. That's why we thought that an online map system could significantly improve our service on the website. Without leaving our website, you can use the map system to easily view route descriptions, locations or even places of interest. Of course, it is also very practical that you can see at a glance where we are based so that you can find us quickly and safely. As you can see, there are simply many advantages and we clearly regard online map services on our website as part of our customer service.

What data is stored by online map services?

When you open a page on our website that has a built-in online map function, personal data may be transmitted to the respective service and stored there. In most cases, this is your IP address, which can also be used to determine your approximate location. In addition to the IP address, data such as search terms entered and longitude and latitude coordinates are also stored. If you enter an address for route planning, for example, this data is also stored. The data is not stored by us, but on the servers of the integrated tools. You can imagine it like this: You are on our website, but when you interact with a map service, this interaction actually happens on their website. In order for the service to function properly, at least one cookie is usually set in your browser. Google Maps, for example, also uses cookies to record user behaviour in order to optimize its own service and provide personalized advertising. You can find out more about cookies in our "Cookies" section.

How long and where is the data stored?

Each online map service processes different user data. If we have further information, we will inform you about the duration of data processing below in the relevant sections on the individual tools. In principle, personal data is only stored for as long as is necessary for the provision of the service. Google Maps, for example, stores certain data for a specified period of time, while you must delete other data yourself. With Mapbox, for example, the IP address is stored for 30 days and then deleted. As you can see, each tool stores data for different lengths of time. We therefore recommend that you take a close look at the privacy policies of the tools you use.

The providers also use cookies to store data on your user behavior with the map service. You can find more general information on cookies in our "Cookies" section, but you can also find out which cookies may be used in the data protection texts of the individual providers. In most cases, however, this is only an exemplary list and is not complete.

Right to object

You always have the option and also the right to access your personal data and to object to its use and processing. You can also withdraw the consent you have given us at any time. As a rule, the easiest way to do this is via the cookie consent tool. However, there are also other opt-out tools that you can use. You can also manage, delete or deactivate any cookies set by the providers you use yourself with just a few mouse clicks. However, some functions of the service may then no longer work as usual. How you manage cookies in your browser also depends on the browser you are using. In the "Cookies" section, you will also find links to the instructions for the most important browsers.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of an online map service, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when it is collected by an online map service.

We also have a legitimate interest in using an online map service to optimize our service on our website. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). However, we only ever use an online map service if you have given your consent. We would like to make this clear at this point.

Information on special online map services - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Google Maps privacy policy

What is Google Maps?

We use Google Maps from Google Inc. on our website. Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services in Europe. With Google Maps, we can show you locations better and thus adapt our service to your needs. By using Google Maps, data is transmitted to Google and stored on Google servers. We would now like to explain in more detail what Google Maps is, why we use this Google service, what data is stored and how you can prevent this.

Google Maps is an internet map service provided by Google. With Google Maps, you can use a PC, tablet or app to search online for exact locations of cities, places of interest, accommodation or businesses. If companies are represented on Google My Business, further information about the company is displayed in addition to the location. To display directions, map sections of a location can be integrated into a website using HTML code. Google Maps shows the earth's surface as a street map or as an aerial or satellite image. Thanks to the Street View images and the high-quality satellite images, very accurate representations are possible.

Why do we use Google Maps on our website?

All our efforts on this site are aimed at providing you with a useful and meaningful time on our website. By integrating Google Maps, we can provide you with the most important information on various locations. You can see at a glance where we are based. The directions always show you the best or quickest way to reach us. You can call up the directions for routes by car, public transport, on foot or by bike. For us, providing Google Maps is part of our customer service.

What data is stored by Google Maps?

In order for Google Maps to provide its full service, the company needs to collect and store data from you. This includes the search terms you enter, your IP address and the latitude and longitude coordinates. If you use the route planner function, the start address you enter is also saved. However, this data storage takes place on the Google Maps websites. We can only inform you about this, but cannot influence it. As we have integrated Google Maps into our website, Google sets at least one cookie (name: NID) in your browser. This cookie stores data about your user behavior. Google uses this data primarily to optimize its own services and to provide you with individual, personalized advertising.

The following cookie is set in your browser due to the integration of Google Maps:

Name: NID
Wert: 188=h26c1Ktha7fCQTx8rXgLyATyITJ322341765-5
Purpose: NID is used by Google to adapt advertisements to your Google search. With the help of the cookie, Google "remembers" your most frequently entered search queries or your previous interaction with ads. So you always get customized ads. The cookie contains a unique ID that Google uses to collect your personal settings for advertising purposes.
Expiration date: after 6 months

Note: We cannot guarantee the completeness of the stored data. Changes can never be ruled out, especially when using cookies. In order to identify the NID cookie, a separate test page was created where only Google Maps was integrated.

How long and where is the data stored?

Google servers are located in data centers all over the world. However, most of the servers are located in America. For this reason, your data is increasingly stored in the USA. You can find out exactly where the Google data centers are located here: https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/locations/?hl=de

Google distributes the data on various data carriers. This means that the data can be accessed more quickly and is better protected against any attempts at manipulation. Each data center also has special emergency programs. If, for example, there are problems with the Google hardware or a natural disaster paralyzes the servers, the data will still be protected.

Google stores some data for a fixed period of time. For other data, Google only offers the option of deleting it manually. The company also anonymizes information (such as advertising data) in server logs by deleting part of the IP address and cookie information after 9 and 18 months respectively.

How can I delete my data or prevent data storage?

With the automatic deletion function for location and activity data introduced in 2019, information on location determination and web/app activity - depending on your decision - is stored for either 3 or 18 months and then deleted. You can also manually delete this data from your history at any time via your Google account. If you want to completely prevent your location from being recorded, you must pause the "Web and app activity" section in your Google account. Click on "Data and personalization" and then on the "Activity settings" option. Here you can switch the activities on or off.

You can also deactivate, delete or manage individual cookies in your browser. Depending on which browser you use, this always works slightly differently. In the "Cookies" section, you will find the relevant links to the instructions for the most popular browsers.

If you do not want any cookies at all, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. This allows you to decide for each individual cookie whether you want to allow it or not.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of Google Maps, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), this consent constitutes the legal basis for the processing of personal data, as may occur when Google Maps is used.

We also have a legitimate interest in using Google Maps to optimize our online service. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use Google Maps if you have given your consent.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/.

If you would like to find out more about Google's data processing, we recommend that you read the company's own privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Online booking systems Introduction

What is an online booking system?

We use one or more booking systems so that you can make bookings via our website. Appointments, for example, can be easily created online. A booking system is a software application integrated into our website that displays available resources (such as free dates) and allows you to book and usually also pay directly online. You are probably already familiar with such booking systems from the hospitality or hotel industry. However, such systems are now used in a wide range of industries. Depending on the tool and settings, booking systems can be used both internally for us and for customers like you. As a rule, your personal data is also collected and stored.

Booking usually works as follows: You will find the booking system on our website, where you can book an appointment for a service directly by clicking the mouse and entering your details, and usually also pay for it straight away. You may be able to use a form to enter various details about yourself. Please be aware that all the data you enter may be stored and managed in a database.

Why do we use an online booking system?

In a way, we see our website as a free service for you. We want you to receive helpful information and feel completely at ease on our site. This also includes an online service that makes it as easy as possible for you to book appointments and services. Gone are the days when you had to wait days for a booking confirmation by phone or e-mail. With an online booking system, everything is done in just a few clicks and you can get on with other things. The system also makes it easier for us to manage all bookings and appointments. We therefore consider such a booking system to be absolutely sensible for both you and us.

What data is processed?

Of course, we cannot tell you exactly what data is processed in this general information text about booking systems. This always depends on the tool used and the functions and options it contains. In addition to the conventional booking function, many booking systems also offer a range of other features. For example, many systems also have an integrated external online payment system (e.g. from Stripe, Klarna or Paypal) and a calendar synchronization function. Accordingly, depending on the functions, different and varying amounts of data can be processed. Data such as IP address, name and contact details, technical information about your device and the time of a booking are usually processed. If you also make a payment in the system, bank details such as account number, credit card number, passwords, TANs etc. are also stored and forwarded to the respective payment provider. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of the tool used carefully so that you know which of your data is specifically processed.

Duration of data processing

Each booking system stores data for different lengths of time. For this reason, we are not yet able to provide any specific information about the duration of data processing. In principle, however, personal data is only stored for as long as is absolutely necessary to provide the services. Booking systems generally also use cookies, which store information for different lengths of time. Some cookies are deleted immediately after leaving the site, others can be stored for several years. You can find out more about this in our "Cookies" section. Please also take a look at the respective data protection declarations of the providers. These should explain how long your data is stored in each specific case.

Right to object

If you have consented to data processing by a booking system, you naturally always have the option and the right to withdraw this consent. So please always be aware that you have rights in relation to your personal data and that you can exercise these rights at any time. If you do not want personal data to be processed, then no personal data may be processed. It's as simple as that. The easiest way to revoke data processing is via a cookie consent tool or other opt-out functions offered. You can also manage data storage by cookies directly in your browser, for example. The legality of data processing remains unaffected until you withdraw your consent.

Legal basis

If you have consented to the use of booking systems, the legal basis for the corresponding data processing is this consent. According to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR (consent), it represents the legal basis for the processing of personal data as it may occur through booking systems.

Furthermore, we also have a legitimate interest in using booking systems because they allow us to expand our customer service and optimize our internal booking organization. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use the tools if you have given your consent. We would like to make this clear at this point.

Information on special booking systems - if available - can be found in the following sections.

Calendly privacy policy

We also use the online booking system Calendly. The service provider is the American company Calendly Inc, 115 E. Main St., Ste A1B, Buford, GA 30518, USA.

Calendly also processes your data in the USA. Calendly is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data of EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, Calendly uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Calendly undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses at Calendly in the data processing conditions at https://calendly.com/dpa.

We hope we have been able to provide you with the most important information about Calendly's data processing. You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Calendly in the privacy policy at https://calendly.com/privacy.

Order processing contract (AVV) Calendly

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with Calendly in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, in particular, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because Calendly processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that Calendly may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://calendly.com/dpa.

Miscellaneous Introduction

What falls under "Other"?

The "Other" category includes services that do not fit into one of the above categories. These are usually various plugins and integrated elements that improve our website. As a rule, these functions are obtained from third-party providers and integrated into our website. For example, these are web search services such as Algolia Place, Giphy, Programmable Search Engine or online services for weather data such as OpenWeather.

Why do we use other third-party providers?

We want our website to offer you the best web experience in our industry. A website has long been more than just a business card for companies. Rather, it is a place to help you find what you are looking for. To make our website even more interesting and helpful for you, we use various third-party services.

What data is processed?

Whenever elements are integrated into our website, your IP address is transmitted to the respective provider, stored and processed there. This is necessary because otherwise the content will not be sent to your browser and will therefore not be displayed accordingly. Service providers may also use pixel tags or web beacons. These are small graphics on websites that record a log file and can also create analyses of this file. Providers can use the information obtained to improve their own marketing measures. In addition to pixel tags, such information (such as which button you click or when you visit which page) can also be stored in cookies. In addition to analysis data on your web behavior, technical information such as your browser type or operating system can also be stored in cookies. Some providers can also link the data obtained with other internal services or with third-party providers. Each provider handles your data differently. We therefore recommend that you carefully read the data protection declarations of the respective services. As a matter of principle, we endeavor to only use services that handle the issue of data protection very carefully.

Duration of data processing

We will inform you below about the duration of data processing if we have further information on this. In general, we only process personal data for as long as is absolutely necessary for the provision of our services and products.

Legal basis

If we ask for your consent and you also agree that we may use the service, this is the legal basis for processing your data (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). In addition to consent, we have a legitimate interest in analyzing the behavior of website visitors in order to improve our offer technically and economically. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interests). Nevertheless, we only use the tools if you have given your consent.

Information on the specific tools, if available, can be found in the following sections.

Asana privacy policy

We also use the project management tool Asana. The service provider is the American company Asana Inc, 633 Folsom Street, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA, 94107-3600, USA.

Asana also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Asana is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data of EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

In addition, Asana uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses, Asana undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de.

We hope we have been able to provide you with the most important information about Asana's data processing. You can find out more about the data and standard contractual clauses that are processed through the use of Asana in the privacy policy at https://asana.com/de/terms#privacy-policy.

DocuSign privacy policy

We use the transaction management platform DocuSign for our website. The service provider is the American company DocuSign, Inc, 221 Main Street Suite 1000 San Francisco, CA 94105, USA.

DocuSign also processes your data in the USA, among other places. We would like to point out that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of protection for data transfers to the USA. This may entail various risks for the legality and security of data processing.

DocuSign uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing with recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer to these countries. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, DocuSign undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

You can find more information on the standard contractual clauses at DocuSign at https://www.docusign.com/legal/terms-and-conditions/schedule-docusign-gen-negotiate/attachment-data-protection/.

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of DocuSign in the privacy policy at https://www.docusign.com/privacy/.

Order processing contract (AVV) DocuSign

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with DocuSign in accordance with Article 28 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find out exactly what a DPA is and, above all, what must be included in a DPA in our general section "Data processing agreement (DPA)".

This contract is required by law because DocuSign processes personal data on our behalf. It clarifies that DocuSign may only process data that it receives from us in accordance with our instructions and must comply with the GDPR. You can find the link to the data processing agreement (DPA) at https://www.docusign.com/legal/terms-and-conditions/schedule-docusign-signature/attachment-data-protection/.

Google Calendar privacy policy

We also use Google's online calendar for our business. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European area, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Google Calendar in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Google Docs privacy policy

We also use Google Docs, an editor for online documents, for our business. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European region, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Google Docs in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Google Sheets privacy policy

We also use the Google Sheets spreadsheet program for our business. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European region, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Google Sheets in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Google Workspace privacy policy

We also use Google Workspace productivity and collaboration tools for our business. The service provider is the American company Google Inc. For the European region, the company Google Ireland Limited (Gordon House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, Ireland) is responsible for all Google services.

Google also processes your data in the USA, among other places. Google is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of personal data from EU citizens to the USA. You can find more information on this at https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.

Google also uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46 (2) and (3) GDPR). Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and are intended to ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the standard contractual clauses, Google undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The Google Ads Data Processing Terms, which refer to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/adsprocessorterms/

You can find out more about the data that is processed through the use of Google Workspace in the privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Explanation of terms used

We always endeavor to write our privacy policy as clearly and comprehensibly as possible. However, this is not always easy, especially when it comes to technical and legal topics. It often makes sense to use legal terms (such as personal data) or certain technical terms (such as cookies, IP address). However, we do not want to use these without explanation. Below you will find an alphabetical list of important terms used, which we may not have sufficiently addressed in the previous privacy policy. If these terms have been taken from the GDPR and are definitions, we will also quote the GDPR texts here and add our own explanations if necessary.

Supervisory authority

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"supervisory authority" means an independent public authority established by a Member State in accordance with Article 51;

Explanation: "Supervisory authorities" are always independent state bodies that are also authorized to issue instructions in certain cases. They serve to carry out so-called state supervision and are located in ministries, special departments or other authorities. For data protection in Austria, there is an Austrian data protection authority; for Germany, there is a separate data protection authority for each federal state.

Processors

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"processor" means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller;

Explanation: As a company and website owner, we are responsible for all data that we process from you. In addition to the controller, there may also be so-called processors. This includes any company or person that processes personal data on our behalf. In addition to service providers such as tax consultants, processors can therefore also be hosting or cloud providers, payment or newsletter providers or large companies such as Google or Microsoft.

Supervisory authority concerned

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"supervisory authority concerned" means a supervisory authority which is concerned by the processing of personal data because

a)

the controller or processor is established on the territory of the Member State of that supervisory authority

b)

such processing has or is likely to have a significant impact on data subjects residing in the Member State of that supervisory authority; or

c)

a complaint has been lodged with that supervisory authority;

Explanation: In Germany, each federal state has its own supervisory authority for data protection. If your company headquarters (main establishment) is therefore in Germany, the respective supervisory authority of the federal state is generally your point of contact. In Austria, there is only one supervisory authority for data protection for the entire country.

Biometric data

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"biometric data" means personal data relating to the physical, physiological or behavioral characteristics of a natural person, obtained using specific technical procedures, which allow or confirm the unique identification of that natural person, such as facial images or dactyloscopic data;

Explanation: These are biological characteristics that are described by biometric data and from which personal data can be obtained using technical procedures. These include DNA, fingerprints, the geometry of various body parts, body size, but also handwriting or the sound of a voice.

File system

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"filing system" means any structured set of personal data which are accessible according to specific criteria, whether centralized, decentralized or dispersed on a functional or geographical basis;

Explanation: Any organized storage of data on a data carrier of a computer is referred to as a "file system". For example, if we store your name and e-mail address on a server for our newsletter, this data is stored in a so-called "file system". The most important tasks of a "file system" include quickly searching for and finding specific data and, of course, the secure storage of data.

Service of the information society

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

'information society service' means a service as defined in Article 1(1)(b) of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council (19);

Explanation: In principle, the term 'information society' refers to a society that relies on information and communication technologies. As a website visitor in particular, you are familiar with various types of online services and most online services are classified as "information society services". A classic example of this is an online transaction, such as the purchase of goods over the Internet.

Third party

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"third party" a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, controller, processor and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorized to process personal data;

Explanation: The GDPR basically only explains what a "third party" is not. In practice, a "third party" is anyone who also has an interest in the personal data but is not one of the above-mentioned persons, authorities or bodies. For example, a parent company can act as a "third party". In this case, the subsidiary group is the controller and the parent group is the "third party". However, this does not mean that the parent company may automatically view, collect or store the personal data of the subsidiary company.

Restriction of processing

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"restriction of processing" means the marking of stored personal data with the aim of restricting their future processing;

Explanation: It is one of your rights that you can request processors to restrict your personal data for further processing operations at any time. For this purpose, specific personal data such as your name, your date of birth or your address will be marked in such a way that further processing is no longer possible. For example, you could restrict processing to the effect that your data may no longer be used for personalized advertising.

Consent

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"consent" of the data subject means any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her;

Explanation: Such consent is usually given via a cookie consent tool on websites. You are probably familiar with this. Whenever you visit a website for the first time, you are usually asked via a banner whether you agree or consent to data processing. In most cases, you can also make individual settings and decide for yourself which data processing you allow and which you do not. If you do not give your consent, your personal data may not be processed. In principle, consent can of course also be given in writing, i.e. not via a tool.

Recipient

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"recipient" means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients; the processing of those data by those public authorities shall be in compliance with the applicable data protection rules according to the purposes of the processing;

Explanation: Every person and every company that receives personal data is considered a recipient. This means that we and our processors are also so-called recipients. Only authorities that have an investigation mandate are not considered recipients.

Genetic data

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"genetic data" means personal data relating to the inherited or acquired genetic characteristics of a natural person, which provide unique information about the physiology or health of that natural person and which have been obtained, in particular, from the analysis of a biological sample from the natural person concerned;

Explanation: With a certain amount of effort, persons can be identified using genetic data. For this reason, genetic data also belong to the category of personal data. Genetic data is obtained, for example, from blood or saliva samples.

Cross-border processing

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"cross-border processing" means either

a)

processing of personal data carried out in the context of the activities of establishments of a controller or processor in the Union in more than one Member State where the controller or processor is established in more than one Member State; or

b)

processing of personal data carried out in the context of the activities of a single establishment of a controller or processor in the Union, but which produces or is likely to produce significant effects on data subjects in more than one Member State;

Explanation: If, for example, a company or other organization has branches in Spain and in Croatia and personal data is processed in connection with the activities of the branches, this is a "cross-border processing" of personal data. Even if the data is only processed in one country (as in this example in Spain), but the effects for the data subject are also recognizable in another country, this is also referred to as "cross-border processing".

Relevant and justified objection

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"relevant and reasoned objection" means an objection to a draft decision as to whether there is an infringement of this Regulation or whether intended measures against the controller or processor are in compliance with this Regulation, which clearly indicates the significance of the risks posed by the draft decision as regards the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects and, where applicable, the free movement of personal data within the Union;

Explanation: If certain measures that we take as controllers or our processors do not comply with the GDPR, you can raise a so-called "relevant and reasoned objection". In doing so, you must explain the scope of the risks in relation to your fundamental rights and freedoms and possibly the free movement of your personal data in the EU.

Personal data

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"personal data" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter "data subject"); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person;

Explanation: Personal data is therefore all data that can identify you as a person. This is usually data such as

• Name
• address
• e-mail address
• Postal address
• Telephone number
• Date of birth
• Identification numbers such as social security number, tax identification number, identity card number or matriculation number
• Bank details such as account number, credit information, account balances, etc.

According to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), your IP address is also considered personal data. IT experts can use your IP address to determine at least the approximate location of your device and subsequently identify you as the owner of the connection. Therefore, the storage of an IP address also requires a legal basis within the meaning of the GDPR. There are also so-called "special categories" of personal data, which are also particularly worthy of protection. These include

• racial and ethnic origin
• political opinions
• religious or philosophical beliefs
• trade union membership
• genetic data, such as data taken from blood or saliva samples
• biometric data (i.e. information on mental, physical or behavioral characteristics that can identify a person)
  health data
• data relating to sexual orientation or sex life

profiling

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"profiling" means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements;

Explanation: Profiling involves collecting various pieces of information about a person in order to learn more about that person. In the web sector, profiling is often used for advertising purposes or for credit checks. For example, web and advertising analysis programs collect data about your behavior and interests on a website. This results in a special user profile that can be used to target advertising to a specific target group.

Pseudonymization

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"pseudonymization" means the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person;

Explanation: Our privacy policy often refers to pseudonymized data. Pseudonymized data means that you can no longer be identified as a person, unless other information is added. However, you should not confuse pseudonymization with anonymization. Anonymization removes any personal reference, meaning that this can only be reconstructed with a disproportionate amount of technical effort.

Company

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"undertaking" means any natural or legal person engaged in an economic activity, irrespective of its legal form, including partnerships or associations regularly engaged in an economic activity;

Explanation: For example, we are a company and also carry out an economic activity via our website by offering and selling services and/or products. For every company, there is the formal characteristic of the legal entity, such as the GmbH or the AG.

Person responsible

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"controller" means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law;

Explanation: In our case, we are responsible for the processing of your personal data and are therefore the "controller". If we pass on collected data to other service providers for processing, these are "processors". An "order processing contract (AVV)" must be signed for this.

Processing

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"processing" means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction;

Note: When we refer to processing in our privacy policy, we mean any kind of data processing. As mentioned above in the original GDPR declaration, this includes not only the collection but also the storage and processing of data.

Binding internal data protection regulations

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"binding corporate rules" means measures for the protection of personal data with which a controller or processor established in the territory of a Member State undertakes to comply in respect of transfers or a set of transfers of personal data to a controller or processor within the same group of undertakings or the same group of undertakings engaged in a joint economic activity in one or more third countries;

Explanation: You may have heard or read the term "Binding Corporate Rules" before. This is because this is the term that usually appears when it comes to binding internal data protection rules. Especially for companies (such as Google) that process data in third countries, it is advisable to have such an internal regulation, through which a company commits itself, so to speak, to comply with data protection regulations. This regulation governs the handling of personal data that is transferred to and processed in third countries.

Violation of the protection of personal data

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"personal data breach" means a breach of security leading to the destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed, whether accidental or unlawful;

Explanation: For example, a "personal data breach" can occur in the event of a data leak, i.e. a technical problem or a cyber attack. If the breach results in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, the controller must immediately report the incident to the competent supervisory authority. In addition, the data subjects must also be informed if the breach poses a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons.

Representative

Definition according to Article 4 of the GDPR

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term:

"representative" means a natural or legal person established in the Union who has been appointed in writing by the controller or processor in accordance with Article 27 and who represents the controller or processor in relation to their respective obligations under this Regulation;

Explanation: A "representative" can therefore be any person who has been appointed in writing by us (controller) or one of our service providers (processor). Companies outside the EU that process data of EU citizens must appoint a representative within the EU. For example, if a web analytics provider has its main office in the USA, it must appoint a "representative" within the European Union to represent its obligations in relation to data processing.

Conclusion

Congratulations! If you are reading these lines, you have really "fought" your way through our entire privacy policy, or at least scrolled this far. As you can see from the scope of our privacy policy, we do not take the protection of your personal data lightly.
It is important to us to inform you about the processing of personal data to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, we not only want to tell you which data is processed, but also explain the reasons for using various software programs. As a rule, privacy policies sound very technical and legal. However, as most of you are not web developers or lawyers, we wanted to take a different approach and explain the facts in simple and clear language. Of course, this is not always possible due to the subject matter. The most important terms are therefore explained in more detail at the end of the privacy policy.
If you have any questions about data protection on our website, please do not hesitate to contact us or the responsible body. We wish you a pleasant time and hope to welcome you back to our website soon.

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