Data Protection
1. Privacy in Brief
General Information
The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit our website. Personal data includes any data that can personally identify you. Detailed information about data protection can be found in our data protection statement located below this text.
Data Collection on Our Website Who is responsible for collecting data on this website? The operator of the website is responsible for processing data on this website. Their contact details can be found in the website’s editorial information or footer.
How do we collect your data? On one hand, your data is collected when you provide it to us. This could be data, for example, that you enter in a contact form.
Other data is automatically recorded by our IT systems when you visit the website. These are primarily technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter our website.
How do we use your data? Some of the data is collected to ensure the proper provision of the service. Other data may be used for analyzing user behavior.
What rights do you have regarding your data? At any time, you have the right to obtain free information about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request correction, blocking, or deletion of this data. You can contact us at the address provided in the website’s editorial information or footer if you have additional questions regarding data protection. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.
Analytics Tools and Third-Party Tools When you visit our website, your surfing behavior may be statistically evaluated. This is primarily done through the use of cookies and so-called analytics programs. The analysis of your surfing behavior is usually anonymous; behavior related to surfing cannot be linked to you. You can object to this analysis or prevent it by not using certain tools. Detailed information on this can be found in the data protection statement below.
You can object to this analysis. We will inform you about the possibility of objection in this data protection statement.
2. General Information and Mandatory Information Data Protection The operators of these websites take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.
If you use this website, various personal data will be collected. Personal data refers to any data that can personally identify you. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens.
Please note that data transmission over the internet (e.g., when communicating by email) may have security vulnerabilities. Complete protection of data from access by third parties is not possible.
Withdrawal of Your Consent to Data Processing Many data processing operations are only possible with your explicit consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time. An informal email to us is sufficient for withdrawing your consent. The legality of the data processing carried out before the withdrawal remains unaffected by the withdrawal.
Right to Lodge a Complaint with the Competent Supervisory Authority In the event of violations of data protection law, the person affected has the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. The competent supervisory authority for data protection issues is the data protection officer of the federal state in which our company is based. A list of data protection officers and their contact details can be found at the following link: [link to the data protection officer’s page].
Right to Data Portability You have the right to have data that we process automatically based on your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another responsible party, this will only be done to the extent technically feasible.
SSL or TLS Encryption For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or inquiries that you send to us as the website operator, this website uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the change in the address line of your browser from “http://” to “https://” and the lock symbol in your browser line.
If SSL or TLS encryption is enabled, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.
Information, Blocking, Deletion Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipient, and the purpose of data processing, as well as a right to correction, blocking, or deletion of this data at any time. You can contact us at the address provided in the website’s editorial information or footer if you have further questions about personal data.
Objection to Promotional Emails We hereby expressly prohibit the use of contact data published in the context of website legal notice requirements with regard to sending promotional and informational materials that have not been expressly requested. The website operators expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited promotional information, such as spam emails.
3.Data Collection on Our Website
Cookies
Some of the web pages use so-called cookies. Cookies do not harm your computer and do not contain any viruses. Cookies serve to make our website more user-friendly, effective, and secure. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and saved by your browser.
Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies.” They are automatically deleted after your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your end device until you delete them. These cookies allow us to recognize your browser on your next visit.
You can set your browser to inform you about the setting of cookies and to allow cookies only in individual cases, to exclude the acceptance of cookies for specific cases or in general, and to activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be limited.
Cookies that are required for the execution of the electronic communication process or for the provision of certain functions (e.g., shopping cart function) are stored based on Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If other cookies (e.g., cookies for analyzing your browsing behavior) are stored, they will be treated separately in this privacy policy.
Server Log Files
The website provider automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:
Browser type and browser version
Operating system used
Referrer URL
Host name of the accessing computer
Time of the server request
IP address
These data will not be combined with other data sources.
The basis for data processing is Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, which allows the processing of data for the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures.
Contact Form
If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your data from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provided there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We will not share this information without your consent.
The processing of the data entered in the contact form is therefore based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR). You can withdraw this consent at any time. An informal email to us is sufficient for the withdrawal. The legality of the data processing operations carried out until the withdrawal remains unaffected by the withdrawal.
The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request us to delete it, withdraw your consent to its storage, or the purpose for which it was stored no longer applies (e.g., after your request has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.
Registration via Facebook Connect
Instead of registering directly on our website, you can register using Facebook Connect. The service provider is Facebook Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland.
If you decide to register with Facebook Connect and click on the “Log in with Facebook” / “Connect with Facebook” button, you will be automatically redirected to the Facebook platform. There you can log in with your Facebook usage data. This will link your Facebook profile to our website or services. This link gives us access to your stored data on Facebook. These are mainly:
Facebook name
Facebook profile and cover picture
Profile picture on Facebook
Email address stored on Facebook
Facebook ID
Friends lists on Facebook
Likes on Facebook (information about likes)
Birthday
Gender
Country
Language
This data is used to create, provide, and personalize your account.
For more information, please see Facebook’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. They can be found at: [link to Facebook’s terms] and [link to Facebook’s privacy policy].
Processing of Data (Customer and Contract Data)
We collect, process, and use personal data only to the extent necessary for the establishment, content, or change of the legal relationship (inventory data). This is done based on Art. 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, which allows the processing of data for the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures. We collect, process, and use personal data concerning the use of our website (usage data) only to the extent necessary to enable the user to utilize the service or to bill the user.
Customer data will be deleted after the order is completed or the business relationship is terminated. Legal retention periods remain unaffected.
Transmission of Data Upon Conclusion of a Service Contract and for Digital Content
We transmit personal data to third parties only if it is necessary for the performance of the contract, for example, to the bank responsible for processing payments.
Further transmission of data will not take place or will only take place if you have expressly consented to the transmission. Your data will not be disclosed to third parties without your express consent, for example for advertising purposes.
The basis for data processing is Art. 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, which allows the processing of data for the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures.
4. Social Media Facebook Plugins (Like and Share Button) Our website integrates plugins of the social network Facebook, provided by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. Facebook plugins can be recognized by the Facebook logo or the “Like” (“Like”) button on our site. An overview of Facebook plugins can be found here: [link to Facebook plugins].
When you visit our pages, a direct connection between your browser and the Facebook server is established via the plugin. Facebook receives the information that you have visited our site with your IP address. If you click the Facebook “Like” button while logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of our pages to your Facebook profile. This allows Facebook to associate your visit to our site with your user account. Please note that as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Facebook. For more information, please refer to Facebook’s privacy policy: [link to Facebook’s privacy policy].
If you do not want Facebook to associate your visit to our site with your Facebook account, please log out of your Facebook account.
Google+ Plugin Our website uses functions of Google+. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
Collection and disclosure of information: You can use the Google+ button to publish information worldwide. You and other users receive personalized content from Google and our partners via the Google+ button. Google stores both the information that you have given +1 for a content and information about the page you viewed when you clicked +1. Your +1 can be displayed as clues along with your profile name and photo in Google services, such as search results or your Google profile, or elsewhere on websites and ads on the Internet.
Google records information about your +1 activities to improve Google services for you and others. To use the Google+ button, you need a globally visible, public Google profile that must contain at least the name chosen for the profile. This name is used in all Google services. In some cases, this name may also replace a different name you used when sharing content through your Google Account. The identity of your Google profile may be displayed to users who know your email address or have other identifying information about you.
Use of the collected information: In addition to the uses described above, the information you provide will be used in accordance with the applicable Google privacy policies. Google may publish aggregated statistics about users’ +1 activities or share them with users and partners, such as publishers, advertisers, or affiliated websites.
Instagram Plugin Functions of the Instagram service are integrated on our website. These functions are offered by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of our pages to your Instagram profile by clicking the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate your visit to our site with your user account. Please note that as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Instagram.
For more information, please refer to Instagram’s privacy policy: [link to Instagram’s privacy policy].
Pinterest Plugin On our website, we use social plugins from the Pinterest social network, operated by Pinterest Inc., 808 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-490, USA (“Pinterest”).
When you call up a page containing such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the Pinterest servers. The plugin transmits log data to the Pinterest server in the USA. This log data may include your IP address, the address of websites visited that also contain Pinterest features, browser type and settings, the date and time of the request, how you use Pinterest, and cookies.
For more information on the purpose, scope, further processing and use of data by Pinterest, as well as your rights and options for protecting your privacy, please refer to Pinterest’s privacy policy: [link to Pinterest’s privacy policy].
5. Analytical Tools and Advertising Google Analytics This website uses features of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
Google Analytics uses “cookies,” which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website will generally be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.
Google Analytics cookies are stored based on Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize both its website and its advertising.
IP Anonymization
On this website, we have activated the IP anonymization feature. As a result, your IP address will be truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or other parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area prior to transmission to the United States. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be sent to a Google server in the US and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services related to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with any other data held by Google.
Browser Plugin
You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting the settings of your browser software accordingly; however, please note that if you do this, you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. You can also prevent the collection of data generated by cookies and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) by Google and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: [link to browser plugin].
Objection to Data Collection
You can prevent the collection of your data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set to prevent your data from being collected on future visits to this site: [link to opt-out].
For more information on how Google Analytics handles user data, please refer to Google’s privacy policy: [link to Google’s privacy policy].
Data Processing Agreement
We have entered into a data processing agreement with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.
Google reCAPTCHA We use “Google reCAPTCHA” (hereinafter “reCAPTCHA”) on our websites. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (“Google”).
reCAPTCHA is used to check whether the data entered on our websites (e.g., in a contact form) is entered by a human or by an automated program. To do this, reCAPTCHA analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis starts automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the website. For the analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates various information (e.g., IP address, duration of the website visit, or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Google.
The reCAPTCHA analyses take place entirely in the background. Website visitors are not notified that an analysis is taking place.
The data processing is based on Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offers from abusive automated crawling and spam.
For more information about Google reCAPTCHA and Google’s privacy policy, please follow these links: [link to Google’s privacy policy] and [link to Google reCAPTCHA].
6. Plugins and Tools YouTube Our website uses plugins from the YouTube website operated by Google. The operator of the pages is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.
When you visit one of our pages featuring a YouTube plugin, a connection to the YouTube servers is established. The YouTube server is informed about which of our pages you have visited.
If you’re logged in to your YouTube account, YouTube allows you to associate your browsing behavior directly with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.
YouTube is used in the interest of an attractive presentation of our online offers. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.
For more information on how user data is handled, please refer to YouTube’s privacy policy: [link to YouTube’s privacy policy].
Google Web Fonts This site uses so-called web fonts provided by Google for the uniform display of fonts. When you open a page, your browser loads the required web fonts into your browser cache to display texts and fonts correctly.
For this purpose, the browser you use must connect to Google’s servers. This gives Google knowledge that our website has been accessed through your IP address. The use of Google Web Fonts is in the interest of a uniform and attractive presentation of our online offers. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.
If your browser does not support web fonts, a default font will be used by your computer.
For more information about Google Web Fonts, visit [link to Google Web Fonts FAQ] and consult Google’s privacy policy: [link to Google’s privacy policy].
Google Maps This website uses the Google Maps service via an API. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
To use the functions of Google Maps, it is necessary to store your IP address. This information is usually transmitted to and stored on a Google server in the United States. The provider of this site has no influence on this data transfer.
We use Google Maps to present our online offers in an appealing way and to make it easy to locate the places we indicate on the website. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.
For more information on how user data is handled, please refer to Google’s privacy policy: [link to Google’s privacy policy].