Privacy policy

Introduction

With the following data protection declaration, we would like to inform you about the types of personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) we are processing, for which purposes and to what extent. The data protection declaration applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of the provision of our services and in particular on our websites, in mobile applications and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Online Offer”).

The terms used are not gender specific.

Status: 15 August 2022

Table of contents

Responsible

TerraTuscia srl

E-mail address:

Impressum: https://terratuscia.com/en/legal-notice/

Contact data protection officer

E-mail address:

Processing overview

The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the persons affected.

Types of data processed

  • Event data (Facebook) (“Event data” is data that may be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook Pixel (via apps or other means), and relates to persons or their actions; the data includes, for example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, app installations, product purchases, etc.; the event data is processed for the purpose of creating target groups for content and advertising information (Custom Audiences).Event data is processed for the purpose of creating target groups for content and advertising information (Custom Audiences); Event data does not include the actual content (such as written comments), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and phone numbers). Event data is deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account).
  • Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses).
  • Content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Contact information (e.g., email, phone numbers).
  • Meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
  • Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history).

Categories of affected persons

  • Business and Contractual Partners.
  • Interested parties.
  • Communication partner.
  • Customers.
  • Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Pupils/ Students/ Participants.
  • Sweepstakes and Contest Entrants.

Processing purposes

  • Affiliate tracking.
  • Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.
  • Conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures).
  • Office and organizational procedures.
  • Direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
  • Conducting sweepstakes and contests.
  • Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
  • Marketing.
  • Contact requests and communication.
  • Profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Remarketing.
  • Safety measures.
  • Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Managing and responding to inquiries.
  • Target group formation (determination of target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content).

Relevant legal base

Below you will find an overview of the legal basis of the GDPR on basis of which we process personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. If, in addition, more specific legal bases are relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the data protection declaration.

  • Consent (Art. 6 (1) p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO) – The data subject has given his/her consent to the processing of personal data concerning him/her for a specific purpose or purposes.
  • Contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or for the performance of pre-contractual measures taken at the data subject’s request.
  • Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. c. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO) – Processing is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, unless such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require the protection of personal data.

Transmission of personal data

In the course of our processing of personal data, the data may be transferred to or disclosed to other entities, companies, legally independent organizational units or persons. The recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements that serve to protect your data with the recipients of your data.

Data transfers within the organization: We may transfer or provide access to personal data to other entities within our organization. Insofar as this transfer is used for administrative purposes, the transfer of data is based on our legitimate corporate and business interests or takes place insofar as it is necessary for the fulfillment of our contract-related obligations or if the consent of the data subjects or a legal permission exists.

Data processing in third countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e., outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA)) or the processing takes place in the context of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, entities or companies, this will only be done in accordance with the legal requirements.

Subject to express consent or contractually or legally required transfer, we process or have the data processed only in third countries with a recognized level of data protection, contractual obligation by so-called standard protection clauses of the EU Commission, in the presence of certifications or binding internal data protection regulations (Art. 44 to 49 GDPR, EU Commission information page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de).

Data deletion

The data processed by us will be deleted in accordance with the legal requirements as soon as their consents permitted for processing are revoked or other permissions cease to apply (e.g. if the purpose of processing this data has ceased to apply or it is not required for the purpose).

Unless the data is deleted because it is required for other and legally permissible purposes, its processing will be limited to these purposes. I.e., the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for reasons of commercial or tax law or whose storage is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural person or legal entity.

Our privacy notices may also contain further information on the retention and deletion of data, which will take precedence for the respective processing operations.

Use of cookies

Cookies are text files that contain data from visited websites or domains and are stored by a browser on the user’s computer. A cookie is primarily used to store information about a user during or after his visit within an online offer. Stored information may include, for example, language settings on a website, login status, a shopping cart, or where a video was watched. The term cookies also includes other technologies that perform the same functions as cookies (e.g., when user information is stored using pseudonymous online identifiers, also known as “user IDs”).

The following cookie types and functions are distinguished:

  • Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offer and closed his browser.
  • Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the browser is closed. For example, login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user revisits a website. Likewise, the interests of users used for reach measurement or marketing purposes may be stored in such a cookie.
  • First-party cookies: First-party cookies are set by us.
  • Third-party cookies (also: third-party cookies): Third-party cookies are mainly used by advertisers (so-called third parties) to process user information.
  • Necessary (also: essential or absolutely necessary) cookies: Cookies may be absolutely necessary for the operation of a website (e.g. to store logins or other user inputs or for security reasons).
  • Statistics, marketing and personalization cookies: Furthermore, cookies are generally also used in the context of range measurement and when a user’s interests or behavior (e.g. viewing certain content, using functions, etc.) on individual websites are stored in a user profile. Such profiles are used, for example, to show users content that matches their potential interests. This process is also called “tracking”, i.e., following the potential interests of users. Insofar as we use cookies or “tracking” technologies, we will inform you separately in our data protection declaration or in the context of obtaining consent.

Notes on legal bases: The legal basis on which we process your personal data using cookies depends on whether we ask you for consent. If this applies and you consent to the use of cookies, the legal basis for the processing of your data is the declared consent. Otherwise, the data processed with the help of cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in the business operation of our online offer and its improvement) or, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations.

Storage period: If we do not provide you with explicit information about the storage period of permanent cookies (e.g. in the context of a so-called cookie opt-in), please assume that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out): Depending on whether the processing is based on consent or legal permission, you have the option at any time to revoke any consent you have given or to object to the processing of your data by cookie technologies (collectively referred to as “opt-out”). You can initially declare your objection by means of your browser settings, e.g. by deactivating the use of cookies (whereby this may also limit the functionality of our online offer). An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes may also be declared by means of a variety of services, especially in the case of tracking, via the websites https://optout.aboutads.info and https://www.youronlinechoices.com/. In addition, you can receive further instructions on how to object in the context of the information on the service providers and cookies used.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Business services

We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g. customers and interested parties (collectively referred to as “contractual partners”) in the context of contractual and comparable legal relationships as well as related measures and in the context of communication with contractual partners (or pre-contractual), e.g. to answer inquiries.

We process this data to fulfill our contractual obligations, to safeguard our rights and for the purposes of the administrative tasks associated with this information as well as for business organization. Within the framework of applicable law, we only disclose the data of the contractual partners to third parties to the extent that it is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or for the fulfillment of legal obligations or with the consent of the persons concerned (e.g. to participating telecommunications, transport and other auxiliary services as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers or tax authorities). The contractual partners will be informed about further forms of processing, e.g. for marketing purposes, within the scope of this data protection declaration.

We inform the contractual partners which data are required for the aforementioned purposes before or in the course of data collection, e.g. in online forms, by means of special marking (e.g. colors) or symbols (e.g. asterisks or similar), or in person.

We delete the data after the expiry of legal warranty and comparable obligations, i.e., generally after 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g., as long as it must be retained for legal archiving reasons (e.g., for tax purposes generally 10 years). We delete data disclosed to us by the contractual partner within the scope of an order in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.

Insofar as we use third-party providers or platforms to provide our services, the terms and conditions and data protection notices of the respective third-party providers or platforms shall apply in the relationship between the users and the providers.

Customer account: Contractual partners can create an account within our online offer (e.g. customer or user account, in short “customer account”). If registration of a customer account is required, contractual partners will be informed of this as well as of the information required for registration. Customer accounts are not public and cannot be indexed by search engines. Within the scope of registration and subsequent logins and uses of the customer account, we store the IP addresses of the customers along with the access times in order to be able to prove registration and prevent any misuse of the customer account.

If customers have terminated their customer account, the data relating to the customer account will be deleted, unless their retention is required for legal reasons. It is the customer’s responsibility to back up their data upon termination of the customer’s account.

Economic analyses and market research: For business reasons and in order to be able to recognize market trends, wishes of contractual partners and users, we analyze the data we have on business transactions, contracts, inquiries, etc., whereby the group of data subjects may include contractual partners, interested parties, customers, visitors and users of our online offer.

The analyses are carried out for the purpose of business evaluations, marketing and market research (e.g. to determine customer groups with different characteristics). In doing so, we can take into account the profiles of registered users, if available, together with their details, e.g. on services used. The analyses serve us alone and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with summarized, i.e. anonymized values. Furthermore, we take into account the privacy of users and process the data for analysis purposes as pseudonymously as possible and, if feasible, anonymously (e.g., as aggregated data).

Store and e-commerce: We process the data of our customers to enable them to select, purchase or order the selected products, goods and related services, as well as their payment and delivery or execution. If necessary for the execution of an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, forwarding and shipping companies, to carry out the delivery or execution to our customers. For the processing of payment transactions, we use the services of banks and payment service providers. The required information is marked as such in the context of the order or comparable purchase process and includes the information required for delivery or provision and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to contact you.

Agency Services: We process our customers’ data as part of our contractual services, which may include, for example, conceptual and strategic consulting, campaign planning, software and design development/consulting or maintenance, implementation of campaigns and processes, handling, server administration, data analysis/consulting services, and training services.

Education and Training Services: We process the data of participants in our education and training services (uniformly referred to as “trainees”) in order to provide our training services to them. The data processed in this context, the type, scope, purpose and necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying contractual and training relationship. Processing forms also include performance assessment and evaluation of our performance and that of our teachers.

In the course of our activities, we may also process special categories of data, in particular data relating to the health of trainees, as well as data revealing ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs. For this purpose, we obtain the explicit consent of the trainees, if required, and otherwise process the special categories of data only if it is necessary for the provision of the training services, for the purposes of health care, social protection or the protection of vital interests of the trainees.

If it is necessary for the fulfillment of our contract, for the protection of vital interests or required by law, or if we have the consent of the trainee, we disclose or transfer the data of the trainee to third parties or agents, such as authorities or in the field of IT, office or comparable services, in compliance with the requirements of professional law.

Artistic and literary services: We process the data of our clients to enable them to select, acquire or commission the chosen services or works and related activities, as well as their payment and delivery or execution or performance.

The required information is identified as such in the context of the order, purchase order or comparable contract conclusion and includes the information required for delivery and invoicing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations.

Publication activity: We process the data of our contact partners, interview partners as well as other persons who are the subject of our publishing, editorial and journalistic as well as related activities. In this context, we refer to the validity of protective provisions of freedom of opinion and freedom of the press in accordance with Art. 85 DSGVO in conjunction with the respective national laws. The processing serves the fulfillment of our commissioned activities and otherwise takes place in particular on the basis of the general public’s interest in information and media offerings.

Events: We process the data of the participants of the events offered or hosted by us, events and similar activities (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “Participants” and “Events”) in order to enable them to participate in the events and to benefit from the services or promotions associated with participation.

If we process health-related data, religious, political or other special categories of data in this context, then this is done within the scope of disclosure (e.g. for thematically oriented events or serves health care, security or is done with the consent of the data subjects).

The required information is identified as such in the context of the order, purchase order or comparable contract conclusion and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. To the extent that we obtain access to information of end users, employees or others, we process it in accordance with legal and contractual requirements.

Further information on commercial services: We process the data of our customers and clients (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “Customers”) in order to enable them to select, purchase or commission the selected services or works and related activities, as well as their payment and delivery or execution or performance.

The required information is identified as such in the context of the order, purchase order or comparable contract conclusion and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Interested parties, business and contractual partners, customers, pupils/ students/ participants.
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, office and organizational procedures, management and response to requests, security measures, conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing activities), profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles).
  • Legal basis: contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. c. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Payment method

In the context of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer data subjects efficient and secure payment options and use other service providers in addition to banks and credit institutions for this purpose (collectively, “payment service providers”).

The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data, such as the name and address, bank data, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as the contract, total and recipient-related information. The information is necessary to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed by the payment service providers and stored with them. I.e., we do not receive any account or credit card related information, but only information with confirmation or negative information of the payment. Under certain circumstances, the data may be transmitted by the payment service providers to credit agencies. The purpose of this transmission is to check identity and creditworthiness. In this regard, we refer to the GTC and the data protection information of the payment service providers.

The terms and conditions and the data protection notices of the respective payment service providers, which can be accessed within the respective websites or transaction applications, shall apply to the payment transactions. We also refer to these for further information and assertion of revocation, information and other data subject rights.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history), contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Data subjects: Customers, prospective customers, users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
  • Legal basis: contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO), Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Provision of the online offer and web hosting

In order to provide our online offer securely and efficiently, we use the services of one or more web hosting providers from whose servers (or servers managed by them) the online offer can be accessed. For these purposes, we may use infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space and database services, as well as security services and technical maintenance services.

The data processed in the course of providing the hosting service may include all information concerning the users of our online service that is generated in the course of use and communication. This regularly includes the IP address, which is necessary to be able to deliver the contents of online offers to browsers, and all entries made within our online offer or from websites.

E-mail sending and hosting: The web hosting services we use also include the sending, receiving and storing of e-mails. For these purposes, the addresses of the recipients and senders as well as further information concerning the e-mail dispatch (e.g. the providers involved) and the contents of the respective e-mails are processed. The aforementioned data may also be processed for SPAM detection purposes. We ask you to note that e-mails are generally not sent encrypted on the Internet. As a rule, e-mails are encrypted in transit, but (unless a so-called end-to-end encryption method is used) not on the servers from which they are sent and received. Therefore, we cannot assume any responsibility for the transmission path of the e-mails between the sender and the reception on our server.

Collection of access data and log files: We ourselves (or our web hosting provider) collect data on every access to the server (so-called server log files). The server log files may include the address and name of the web pages and files accessed, the date and time of access, the volume of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page) and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider.

The server log files may be used, on the one hand, for security purposes, e.g., to prevent server overload (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and, on the other hand, to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability.

  • Types of data processed: Content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of our online offer and user-friendliness.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

  • ALL-INKL: Services in the field of providing information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacity); Service provider: ALL-INKL.COM – Neue Medien Münnich, Owner: René Münnich, Hauptstraße 68, 02742 Friedersdorf, Germany; Website: https://all-inkl.com/; Privacy policy: https: //all-inkl.com/datenschutzinformationen/.

Registration, login and user account

Users can create a user account. In the course of registration, users are provided with the required mandatory data and processed for the purpose of providing the user account on the basis of contractual obligation fulfillment. The processed data includes in particular the login information (username, password as well as an e-mail address).

Within the scope of using our registration and login functions as well as the use of the user account, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. The storage is based on our legitimate interests as well as those of the users in protection against misuse and other unauthorized use. As a matter of principle, this data will not be passed on to third parties unless it is necessary for the prosecution of our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so.

Users can be informed by e-mail about processes relevant to their user account, such as technical changes.

Registration with pseudonyms: Users may use pseudonyms as user names instead of plain names.

Users’ profiles are public: Users’ profiles are publicly visible and accessible.

Setting the visibility of profiles: Users can use settings to determine the extent to which their profiles are visible or accessible to the public or only to certain groups of people.

Two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security for your user account, ensuring that only you can access your account, even if someone else knows your password. For this purpose, you will need to perform another authentication measure in addition to your password (e.g. enter a code sent to a mobile device). We will inform you about the procedure we use.

Deletion of data after termination: If users have terminated their user account, their data with regard to the user account will be deleted, subject to any legal permission, obligation or consent of the users.

It is the responsibility of the users to back up their data prior to the end of the contract in the event of termination. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all user data stored during the term of the contract.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, security measures, management and response to requests.
  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Community functions

The community features we provide allow users to engage in conversations or otherwise interact with each other. In this regard, we ask you to note that the use of the community functions is only permitted in compliance with the applicable legal situation, our terms and guidelines, and the rights of other users and third parties.

User posts are public: User-created posts and content are publicly visible and accessible.

Setting the visibility of posts: Users can use settings to determine the extent to which the posts and content they create are visible or accessible to the public or only to certain people or groups.

Storage of data for security purposes: Users’ posts and other input are processed for the purposes of community and conversation functions and, subject to legal obligations or legal permission, are not disclosed to third parties. An obligation to surrender may arise in particular in the case of illegal contributions for the purposes of legal prosecution. We would like to point out that in addition to the content of the posts, timing of the post and the IP address of the user are also stored. This is done in order to be able to take appropriate measures to protect other users and the community.

Right to delete: The deletion of contributions, content or information provided by users is permissible to the extent necessary after proper consideration if there are concrete indications that they represent a violation of legal regulations, our specifications or the rights of third parties.

Restricted deletion of conversation postsOut of consideration for other users, the user’s contributions to the conversation remain stored even after cancellation and account deletion, so that conversations, comments, advice, etc. do not lose their meaning or reverse. Communication between and among users do not lose their meaning or reverse. User names are deleted or pseudonymized if they were not already pseudonyms. Users may request the complete deletion of conversation posts at any time.

Protection of own data: Users decide for themselves what data they disclose about themselves within our online offering. For example, when users provide personal information or participate in conversations. We ask users to protect their data and to publish personal data only with caution and only to the extent necessary. In particular, we ask users to note that they must protect the access data very specially and use secure passwords (i.e. above all, character combinations that are as long and random as possible).

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service, security measures.
  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Blogs and publication media

We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter “publication medium”). Readers’ data are processed for the purposes of the publication medium only to the extent necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. For the rest, we refer to the information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium within the scope of this data protection notice.

Comments and contributions: When users leave comments or other contributions, their IP addresses may be stored based on our legitimate interests. This is done for our security, in case someone leaves illegal content in comments and posts (insults, forbidden political propaganda, etc.). In this case, we ourselves may be prosecuted for the comment or post and are therefore interested in the identity of the author.

Furthermore, we reserve the right to process the user’s data for the purpose of spam detection on the basis of our legitimate interests.

On the same legal basis, in the case of surveys, we reserve the right to store the IP addresses of users for their duration and to use cookies to avoid multiple votes.

The personal information provided in the context of comments and contributions, any contact and website information as well as the content-related information will be stored permanently by us until the user objects.

Comment subscriptions: Follow-up comments can be subscribed to by users with their consent. Users will receive a confirmation email to verify that they are the owner of the email address entered. Users can unsubscribe from ongoing comment subscriptions at any time. The confirmation email will include instructions on how to cancel. For the purposes of proving user consent, we store the time of subscription along with the user’s IP address and delete this information when users unsubscribe.

You can cancel the receipt of our subscription at any time, i.e., revoke your consents. We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting them to prove consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual deletion request is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.

Retrieval of WordPress emojis and smilies: Within our WordPress blog, graphical emojis (or smilies), i.e., small graphic files expressing emotions, are used for purposes of efficient integration of content elements, obtained from external servers. The providers of the servers collect the IP addresses of the users. This is necessary so that the emoji files can be transmitted to the users’ browsers.

Akismet anti-spam check: We use the “Akismet” service based on our legitimate interests. With the help of Akismet, comments from real people are distinguished from spam comments. For this purpose, all comment data is sent to a server in the USA, where it is analyzed and stored for four days for comparison purposes. If a comment has been classified as spam, the data will be stored beyond this time. This information includes the name entered, the e-mail address, the IP address, the comment content, the referrer, information about the browser used as well as the computer system and the time of the entry.

Users are welcome to use pseudonyms or refrain from entering their name or email address. You can completely prevent the transfer of data by not using our commenting system. That would be a shame, but unfortunately we don’t see any alternatives that work just as effectively.

hCaptcha: We use hCaptcha (hereinafter “hCaptcha”) on this website. The provider is Intuition Machines, Inc, 2211 Selig Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90026, USA (hereinafter “IMI”). The purpose of hCaptcha is to verify whether data entry on this website (e.g. in a contact form) is made by a human or by an automated program. For this purpose, hCaptcha analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis starts automatically as soon as the website visitor enters a website with activated hCaptcha. For the analysis, hCaptcha evaluates various information (e.g. IP address, time spent by the website visitor on the website or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to IMI. If hCaptcha is used in “invisible mode”, the analyses run completely in the background. Website visitors are not notified that an analysis is taking place. The storage and analysis of the data is based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offers from abusive automated spying and from SPAM. If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s terminal device (e.g. device fingerprinting) as defined by the TTDSG. The consent can be revoked at any time. Data processing is based on standard contractual clauses contained in the Data Processing Addendum to IMI’s General Terms and Conditions or Data Processing Contracts.

Cloudflare Turnstile: We use Cloudflare Turnstile (hereinafter “Turnstile”) on this website. The provider is Cloudflare Inc, 101 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA (hereinafter “Cloudflare”). Turnstile is intended to check whether data entry on this website (e.g. in a contact form) is done by a human or by an automated program. For this purpose, Turnstile analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis starts automatically as soon as the website visitor enters a website with Turnstile enabled. For analysis, Turnstile evaluates various information (e.g. IP address, time spent by the website visitor on the website or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Cloudflare. The storage and analysis of the data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offers from abusive automated spying and from SPAM. If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO und § 25 Abs. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s terminal device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. The consent can be revoked at any time.

The data processing is based on standard contractual clauses, which you can find here:
https://www.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-customer-scc/ .

For more information about Cloudflare Turnstile, see the privacy policy at.
https://www.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-customer-dpa/.

Profile pictures from Gravatar: We use the service Gravatar within our online offer and especially in the blog.

Gravatar is a service where users can sign up and store profile pictures and their email addresses. If users leave posts or comments on other online presences (especially blogs) with the respective e-mail address, their profile pictures can be displayed next to the posts or comments. For this purpose, the email address provided by users is transmitted to Gravatar in encrypted form for the purpose of checking whether a profile is stored for it. This is the only purpose of the transmission of the e-mail address. It will not be used for other purposes, but will be deleted afterwards.

The use of Gravatar is based on our legitimate interests, as we use Gravatar to offer post and comment authors the opportunity to personalize their posts with a profile picture.

By displaying the images, Gravatar obtains the IP address of the users, as this is necessary for a communication between a browser and an online service.

If users do not want a user image associated with their Gravatar email address to appear in the comments, they should use an email address that is not on file with Gravatar to comment. We also point out that it is also possible to use an anonymous email address or no email address at all, if users do not wish their own email address to be sent to Gravatar. Users can completely prevent the transfer of data by not using our commenting system.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: providing contractual services and customer service, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), security measures, managing and responding to inquiries, contact requests and communication, providing our online service and user experience.
  • Legal basis: contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO), Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Contact and request management

When contacting us (e.g. by contact form, e-mail, telephone or via social media), the information of the inquiring persons is processed to the extent necessary to respond to the contact requests and any requested measures.

The response to contact requests in the context of contractual or pre-contractual relationships is made in order to fulfill our contractual obligations or to respond to (pre)contractual inquiries and otherwise on the basis of legitimate interests in responding to the inquiries.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication.
  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Chatbots and chat functions

We offer online chats and chatbot features (collectively, “Chat Services”) as a communication option. A chat is an online conversation conducted with a certain degree of timeliness. A chatbot is a software that answers users’ questions or informs them about messages. When you use our chat features, we may process your personal data.

If you use our chat services within an online platform, your identification number will also be stored within the respective platform. We may also collect information about which users interact with our chat services and when. Furthermore, we store the content of your conversations via the chat services and log registration and consent processes in order to be able to prove them in accordance with legal requirements.

We would like to point out to users that the respective platform provider may learn that and when users communicate with our chat services as well as collect technical information about the device used by users and, depending on the settings of their device, also location information (so-called metadata) for purposes of optimizing the respective services and for security purposes. Likewise, the metadata of communication via chat services (i.e., e.g., information about who communicated with whom) may be used by the respective platform providers for marketing purposes or to display advertising tailored to users in accordance with their terms and conditions, to which we refer for further information.

If users agree to a chatbot to activate information with regular messages, they have the option to unsubscribe from the information at any time in the future. The chatbot instructs users how and with which terms they can unsubscribe from messages. Unsubscribing from chatbot messages deletes user data from the list of message recipients.

We use the aforementioned information to operate our chat services, e.g., to personally address users, to respond to their inquiries, to deliver any requested content, and also to improve our chat services (e.g., to “teach” chatbots answers to frequently asked questions or to recognize unanswered inquiries).

Notes on legal bases: We use chat services on the basis of consent if we have previously obtained users’ permission to process their data as part of our chat services (this applies to cases where users are asked for consent, for example, for a chatbot to send them messages on a regular basis). If we use chat services to answer users’ inquiries about our services or our company, this is done for contractual and pre-contractual communication. Otherwise, we use chat services based on our legitimate interests in optimizing the chat services, their operational efficiency, and enhancing the positive user experience.

Revocation, objection and deletion: You can revoke a given consent or object to the processing of your data within the scope of our chat services at any time.

  • Types of data processed: contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Newsletter and electronic notifications

We send newsletters, e-mails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter “newsletter”) only with the consent of the recipients or a legal permission. Insofar as the contents of the newsletter are specifically described in the course of registration, they are decisive for the user’s consent. For the rest, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

To subscribe to our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to enter your e-mail address. However, we may ask you to provide a name, for the purpose of personal address in the newsletter, or other information, if required for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double opt-in procedure: Registration for our newsletter is always carried out in a so-called double opt-in process. I.e., after registration you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can log in with foreign e-mail addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the subscription process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes the storage of the login and confirmation time as well as the IP address. Likewise, changes to your data stored with the shipping service provider are logged.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove consent formerly given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual deletion request is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time. In the case of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the e-mail address in a block list (so-called “block list”) for this purpose alone.

The logging of the registration process takes place on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purposes of proving its proper course. If we commission a service provider to send e-mails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure dispatch system.

Notes on legal basis: The newsletter is sent on the basis of the recipients’ consent or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing, if and to the extent that this is permitted by law, e.g. in the case of existing customer advertising. Insofar as we commission a service provider to send e-mails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests. The registration process is recorded on the basis of our legitimate interests to demonstrate that it has been carried out in accordance with the law.

Contents: Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, phone numbers), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).
  • Opt-out: You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to cancel the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can use one of the contact options given above, preferably e-mail, for this purpose.

Promotional communication via e-mail, mail, fax or telephone

We process personal data for the purposes of promotional communication, which may take place via various channels, such as e-mail, telephone, mail or fax, in accordance with legal requirements.

Recipients have the right to revoke consent given at any time or to object to promotional communications at any time.

After revocation or objection, we may store the data required to prove consent for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting it. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual deletion request is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Sweepstakes and contests

We process personal data of participants in sweepstakes and contests only in compliance with the relevant data protection provisions, insofar as the processing is contractually necessary for the provision, implementation and execution of the sweepstakes, the participants have consented to the processing or the processing serves our legitimate interests (e.g., in the security of the sweepstakes or the protection of our interests against misuse through possible collection of IP addresses when submitting sweepstakes entries).

If contributions from participants are published as part of the sweepstakes (e.g. as part of a vote or presentation of the sweepstakes entries or the winners or reporting on the sweepstakes), we point out that the names of the participants may also be published in this context. Participants may object to this at any time.

If the competition takes place within an online platform or a social network (e.g. Facebook or Instagram, hereinafter referred to as “online platform”), the terms of use and data protection provisions of the respective platforms shall also apply. In these cases, we would like to point out that we are responsible for the information provided by the participants as part of the sweepstakes and that inquiries with regard to the sweepstakes should be directed to us.

The participants’ data will be deleted as soon as the competition or contest has ended and the data is no longer required to inform the winners or because queries about the competition are to be expected. In principle, the participants’ data will be deleted no later than 6 months after the end of the competition. Winners’ data may be retained for longer periods, e.g. in order to answer queries about the prizes or to fulfill the prize obligations; in this case, the retention period depends on the type of prize and is up to three years for items or services, for example, in order to be able to process warranty claims. Furthermore, the participants’ data may be stored for a longer period of time, e.g. in the form of reporting on the sweepstakes in online and offline media.

If data was also collected for other purposes within the scope of the competition, its processing and the retention period will be governed by the data protection information on this use (e.g. in the case of registration for the newsletter as part of a competition).

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Affected persons: Sweepstakes and contest participants.
  • Purposes of processing: implementation of sweepstakes and contests.
  • Legal basis: Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO).

Surveys and polls

The surveys and interviews we conduct (hereinafter “surveys”) are evaluated anonymously. Personal data is only processed insofar as this is necessary for the provision and technical implementation of the surveys (e.g. processing of the IP address in order to display the survey in the user’s browser or to enable a resumption of the survey with the aid of a temporary cookie (session cookie)) or users have consented to this.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask participants for consent to process their data, this is the legal basis for the processing; otherwise, the processing of participants’ data is based on our legitimate interests in conducting an objective survey.

  • Types of data processed: contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or postal mail).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Online marketing

We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include, in particular, marketing advertising space or displaying promotional and other content (collectively, “Content”) based on users’ potential interests and measuring its effectiveness.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar procedures are used, by means of which the user data relevant to the presentation of the aforementioned content is stored. This information may include, for example, content viewed, web pages visited, online networks used, but also communication partners and technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used, and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this can also be processed.

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we use available IP masking methods (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear data of the users (such as e-mail addresses or names) are stored in the online marketing process, but pseudonyms. This means that we, as well as the providers of the online marketing methods, do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

The information in the profiles is usually stored in the cookies or by means of similar procedures. These cookies can later generally be read on other websites that use the same online marketing method and analyzed for the purpose of displaying content as well as supplemented with further data and stored on the server of the online marketing method provider.

Exceptionally, clear data can be assigned to profiles. This is the case if, for example, the users are members of a social network whose online marketing methods we use and the network links the users’ profiles with the aforementioned information. We ask you to note that users can make additional agreements with the providers, e.g. by giving their consent as part of the registration process.

We generally only receive access to aggregate information about the success of our advertisements. However, in the context of so-called conversion measurements, we can check which of our online marketing processes have led to a so-called conversion, i.e., for example, to a contract being concluded with us. Conversion measurement is used solely to analyze the success of our marketing efforts.

Unless otherwise stated, we ask you to assume that cookies used will be stored for a period of two years.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use the third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

We use the “Google Marketing Platform” (and services such as “Google Ad Manager”) to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on web pages, etc.). The Google Marketing Platform is characterized by the fact that ads are displayed in real time based on presumed user interests. This allows us to display ads for and within our online offering in a more targeted manner in order to only present users with ads that potentially match their interests. If, for example, a user is shown ads for products he or she was interested in on other online offers, this is referred to as “remarketing”.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. web pages visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: marketing, profiling with user-related information (creating user profiles), remarketing, targeting (determining target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content), conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).
  • Opt-out: We refer to the data protection notices of the respective providers and the opt-out options given for the providers. If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you have the option of disabling cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict functions of our online offer. We therefore additionally recommend the following opt-out options, which are offered in summary form directed at respective areas: a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu. (b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices. c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices. d) Inter-area: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Services used and service providers:

  • Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a solution with which we can manage so-called website tags via an interface and thus integrate other services into our online offering (please refer to further details in this privacy policy). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) therefore does not yet create user profiles or store cookies, for example. Google only learns the IP address of the user, which is necessary to run the Google Tag Manager. Service Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
  • Google Analytics: Online marketing and web analytics; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
  • Targeting with Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to display the ads placed within advertising services of Google and its partners only to those users who have also shown an interest in our online offer or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products determined on the basis of the websites visited), which we transmit to Google (so-called “remarketing”, or “Google Analytics Audiences”). With the help of Remarketing Audiences, we also want to ensure that our ads match the potential interest of users; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
  • Google Ads and conversion measurement: We use the online marketing method “Google Ads” to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on web pages, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who have a presumed interest in the ads. Furthermore, we measure the conversion of the ads. However, we only learn the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to a page tagged with a so-called “conversion tracking tag”. However, we ourselves do not receive any information with which users can be identified; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https: //marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
  • Google Ad Manager: Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https: //marketingplatform.google.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
  • Google Adsense with personalized ads: We use the Google Adsense service with personalized ads, with the help of which ads are displayed within our online offer and we receive remuneration for their display or other use; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
  • Google Adsense with non-personalized ads: We use the Google Adsense service with non-personalized ads, with the help of which ads are displayed within our online offer and we receive remuneration for their display or other use; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Affiliate programs and affiliate links

We include so-called affiliate links or other references (which may include, for example, search masks, widgets or discount codes) to the offers and services of third-party providers in our online offer (collectively referred to as “affiliate links”). If users follow the affiliate links or subsequently take advantage of the offers, we may receive a commission or other benefits from these third parties (collectively, “Commission”).

In order to be able to track whether users have taken advantage of the offers of an affiliate link used by us, it is necessary for the respective third-party providers to learn that users have followed an affiliate link used within our online offer. The assignment of affiliate links to the respective business transactions or to other actions (e.g. purchases) is solely for the purpose of commission accounting and will be cancelled as soon as it is no longer necessary for the purpose.

For the purposes of the aforementioned assignment of the affiliate links, the affiliate links may be supplemented by certain values that are a component of the link or may be stored elsewhere, e.g. in a cookie. The values may include, in particular, the source website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identifier of the respective offer, the type of link used, the type of offer and an online identifier of the user.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use the third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Furthermore, their use may be a component of our (pre)contractual services, provided that the use of the third-party providers has been agreed within this framework. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Affiliate tracking.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Rating platforms

We participate in evaluation processes to evaluate, optimize and promote our services. If users rate us or otherwise provide feedback via the participating rating platforms or processes, the General Terms and Conditions of Business or Use and the data protection notices of the providers also apply. As a rule, the evaluation also requires registration with the respective providers.

In order to ensure that the persons rating have actually used our services, we transmit, with the consent of the customers, the data required for this purpose with regard to the customer and the service used to the respective rating platform (including name, e-mail address and order number or item number). This data is used solely to verify the authenticity of the user.

Rating widget: We integrate so-called “rating widgets” into our online offer. A widget is a function and content element integrated into our online offering that displays changeable information. It can be represented, for example, in the form of a seal or comparable element, sometimes called a “badge”. In doing so, the corresponding content of the widget is displayed within our online offer, but it is retrieved at that moment from the servers of the respective widget provider. This is the only way to always show the current content, especially the current rating. For this purpose, a data connection must be established from the website accessed within our online offer to the widget provider’s server and the widget provider receives certain technical data (access data, including IP address) that are necessary so that the widget’s content can be delivered to the user’s browser.

Furthermore, the widget provider receives information that users have visited our online offer. This information may be stored in a cookie and used by the widget provider to identify which online offers participating in the evaluation process have been visited by the user. The information may be stored in a user profile and used for advertising or market research purposes.

upreview:

  • Types of data processed: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, term, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Customers, users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), marketing.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Presence in social networks (social media)

We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with users active there or to offer information about us.

We would like to point out that in the process, user data may be processed outside the area of the European Union. This may give rise to risks for users because, for example, it could make it more difficult to enforce users’ rights.

Furthermore, user data within social networks is usually processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, usage profiles can be created based on the usage behavior and resulting interests of the users. The usage profiles can in turn be used, for example, to display advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the users’ interests. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on the users’ computers, in which the usage behavior and interests of the users are stored. Furthermore, data may also be stored in the usage profiles regardless of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).

For a detailed presentation of the respective forms of processing and the options to object (opt-out), we refer to the privacy statements and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

Also in the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to the users’ data in each case and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, then you can contact us.

Facebook: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for the collection (but not the further processing) of data from visitors to our Facebook page (so-called “fan page”). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see under “Things You and Others Do and Provide” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy), as well as information about the devices used by the users (e. g. B. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see under “Device Information” in the Facebook Data Policy Statement: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook Privacy Policy under “How do we use this information?”, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, called “Page Insights,” to Page operators to provide them with insights into how people interact with their Pages and with content associated with them. We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook (“Information on Page Insights”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of data subjects (i.e. users can, for example, send information or deletion requests directly to Facebook). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority), are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the “Information on Page Insights”(https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data).

  • Types of data processed: contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), marketing.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Services used and service providers:

Plugins and embedded functions and content

We incorporate into our online offering functional and content elements that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”). This may include, for example, graphics, videos or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “Content”).

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the user, since without the IP address they could not send the content to their browser. The IP address is thus required for the display of these contents or functions. We endeavor to use only such content whose respective providers use the IP address only for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. The “pixel tags” can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user’s device and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit, and other information about the use of our online offering, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use the third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

Facebook plugins and content: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for the collection or receipt in the course of a transmission (but not the further processing) of “Event Data” that Facebook collects or receives in the course of a transmission by means of the Facebook social plugins (and content embedding features) running on our Online Offer for the following purposes: a) Displaying content as well as advertising information that corresponds to the presumed interests of the users; b) Delivery of commercial and transactional messages (e.g., addressing users via Facebook Messenger); c) Improving ad delivery and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the identification of which content or advertising information is likely to be of interest to users). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook (“Responsible Party Addendum”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfil the data subjects’ rights (i.e. users can, for example, send information or deletion requests directly to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., do not receive information about individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing is not done under shared responsibility, but rather on the basis of a data processing agreement (“Data Processing Terms “, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing) the “data security conditions” (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and with regard to processing in the USA on the basis of standard contractual clauses (“Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum, https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority), are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook.

Instagram plugins and content: We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for the collection or receipt in the course of a transmission (but not the further processing) of “Event Data” that Facebook collects or receives in the course of a transmission by means of Instagram features (e.g., content embedding features) running on our Online Service for the following purposes: a) Displaying content as well as advertising information that corresponds to the presumed interests of the users; b) Delivery of commercial and transactional messages (e.g., addressing users via Facebook Messenger); c) Improving ad delivery and personalization of features and content (e.g., improving the identification of which content or advertising information is likely to be of interest to users). We have entered into a special agreement with Facebook (“Responsible Party Addendum”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfil the data subjects’ rights (i.e. users can, for example, send information or deletion requests directly to Facebook). Note: When Facebook provides us with metrics, analytics, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e., do not receive information about individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing is not done under shared responsibility, but rather on the basis of a data processing agreement (“Data Processing Terms “, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing) the “data security conditions” (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and with regard to processing in the USA on the basis of standard contractual clauses (“Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum, https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority), are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), event data (Facebook) (“event data” is data that can be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook Pixel (via apps or in other ways), and relates to persons or their actions; the data includes, e.g.. Information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; Event data is processed for the purpose of forming target groups for content and advertising information (Custom Audiences); Event data does not include the actual content (such as written comments), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and phone numbers). Event data is deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account), inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of our online offer and user experience, provision of contractual services and customer service, marketing, profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO), consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. GDPR).

Services used and service providers:

  • Facebook plugins and content: Facebook Social Plugins and Content – This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Facebook. The list and appearance of Facebook social plugins can be viewed here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/; Service provider: Facebook Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; parent company: Facebook, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Opt-out option: Settings for advertisements: https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/ad_settings (Login to Facebook is required).
  • Google Fonts: We integrate the fonts (“Google Fonts”) of the provider Google, whereby the user’s data is used solely for the purpose of displaying the fonts in the user’s browser. The integration is based on our legitimate interests in a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts, their uniform presentation and taking into account possible licensing restrictions for their integration. Service Provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://fonts.google.com/; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.
  • Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the service “Google Maps” of the provider Google. The data processed may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of the users, which, however, are not collected without their consent (usually executed as part of the settings of their mobile devices); service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https: //tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, Ad display settings: https: //adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
  • Instagram Plugins and Content: Instagram Plugins and Content – This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this Online Offer within Instagram. Service Provider: https://www.instagram.com, Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy Policy: https: //instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.
  • OpenStreetMap: We embed the maps of the service “OpenStreetMap”, which are offered on the basis of the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF). User data is used by OpenStreetMap solely for the purposes of displaying the map functions and for caching the selected settings. This data may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of users, which, however, will not be collected without their consent (usually executed within the settings of their mobile devices). Service provider: OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF); website: https://www.openstreetmap.de; privacy policy: https: //wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy.
  • Twitter plugins and content: Twitter Plugins and Buttons – This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or text and buttons that allow users to share content from this online offering within Twitter. Service Provider: Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 D02 AX07, Ireland, Parent Company: Twitter Inc, 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; Website: https://twitter.com/de; Privacy Policy: https://twitter.com/de/privacy.
  • YouTube videos: Video content; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://www.youtube.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy; opt-out: opt-out plugin: https: //tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, ad display settings: https: //adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
  • YouTube videos: Video content; YouTube is integrated via the domain https://www.youtube-nocookie.com in the so-called “Enhanced Privacy Mode”, whereby no cookies on user activities are collected in order to personalize video playback. Nevertheless, information about the user’s interaction with the video (e.g. remembering the last playback point), may be stored; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://www.youtube.com; privacy policy: https: //policies.google.com/privacy.

Management, organization and auxiliary tools

We use services, platforms and software of other providers (hereinafter referred to as “Third Party Providers”) for the purpose of organizing, managing, planning as well as providing our services. When selecting third-party providers and their services, we observe the legal requirements.

In this context, personal data may be processed and stored on the servers of the third-party providers. This may involve various data that we process in accordance with this privacy policy. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their contents.

If users are referred to the third-party providers or their software or platforms in the course of communication, business or other relationships with us, the third-party providers may process usage data and metadata for security, service optimization or marketing purposes. We therefore ask you to observe the data protection notices of the respective third-party providers.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use the third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Furthermore, their use may be a component of our (pre)contractual services, provided that the use of the third-party providers has been agreed within this framework. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to refer you to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a. DSGVO), contract performance and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b. DSGVO), Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f. DSGVO).

Modification and update of the privacy policy

We ask you to regularly inform yourself about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as the changes in the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require an act of cooperation on your part (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.

Where we provide addresses and contact information for companies and organizations in this privacy statement, please note that the addresses may change over time and please check the information before contacting us.

Definitions

This section provides you with an overview of the terms used in this privacy statement. Many of the terms are taken from the law and defined especially in Art. 4 GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, on the other hand, are intended primarily to aid understanding. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

  • Affiliate tracking: Affiliate tracking logs links that the linking websites use to direct users to websites with product or other offers. The operators of the respective linking websites may receive a commission if users follow these so-called affiliate links and subsequently take advantage of the offers (e.g. buy goods or use services). For this purpose, it is necessary for the providers to be able to track whether users who are interested in certain offers subsequently take advantage of the affiliate links. Therefore, for affiliate links to work, they need to be supplemented with certain values that become a part of the link or are otherwise stored, for example, in a cookie. The values include, in particular, the source website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identifier of the respective offer, an online identifier of the user as well as tracking-specific values, such as, for example, ad media ID, partner ID and categorizations.
  • IP masking: IP masking is a method of deleting the last octet, i.e., the last two numbers of an IP address, so that the IP address can no longer be used to uniquely identify a person. Therefore, IP masking is a means of pseudonymizing processing procedures, especially in online marketing
  • Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement (also known as “visit action evaluation”) is a method used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the users’ devices within the websites on which the marketing activities take place and then retrieved again on the target website. For example, we can track whether the ads we have placed on other websites have been successful.
  • Personal data: “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 (e.g. cookie) or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
  • Profiles with user-related information: The processing of “profiles with user-related information”, or “profiles” for short, includes any type of automated processing of personal data that consists of using such personal data to analyze, evaluate or to predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information concerning demographics, behavior and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) (e.g. interests in certain content or products, click behavior on a website or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
  • Remarketing: “Remarketing” or “retargeting” is when, for example, for advertising purposes, a note is made of which products a user was interested in on a website in order to remind the user of these products on other websites, e.g. in advertisements.
  • Controller: a “controller” is 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.
  • Processing: “Processing” means any operation or set of operations which is performed upon personal data, whether or not by automatic means. The term is wide-ranging and encompasses practically every handling of data, be it collection, evaluation, storage, transmission or deletion.
  • Targeting: Targeting (or “custom audiences”) is when target groups are determined for advertising purposes, e.g., display of advertisements. For example, based on a user’s interest in certain products or topics on the Internet, it can be inferred that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online store where he viewed the products. In turn, we speak of “lookalike audiences” (or similar target groups) when the content deemed suitable is displayed to users whose profiles or interests presumably correspond to the users for whom the profiles were formed. Cookies and web beacons are generally used for the purpose of creating Custom Audiences and Lookalike Audiences.
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