We are very pleased about your interest in our company. The use of our internet pages is generally possible without providing any personal data. However, if a data subject wishes to use special services of our company via our website, the processing of personal data may become necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally obtain the consent of the data subject.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, email address, or telephone number of a data subject, always takes place in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and in compliance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to us. Through this privacy policy, our company wishes to inform the public about the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use, and process. Furthermore, data subjects are informed about their rights by means of this privacy policy.

As the controller, we have implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection possible of personal data processed through this website. Nevertheless, internet-based data transmissions can generally have security vulnerabilities, so absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transmit personal data to us by alternative means, for example, by telephone.

Definitions

The privacy policy is based on the terms used by the European legislator when enacting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our privacy policy should be easy to read and understand for both the public and our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to explain the terms used in advance.

In this privacy policy, we use, among others, the following terms:

• a) 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 or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

• b) data subject

  Data subject means any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the controller.

• c) processing

  Processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.

• d) restriction of processing

  Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future.

• e) profiling

  Profiling means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements.

• f) pseudonymization

  Pseudonymization is the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.

• g) controller or data controller

  Controller or person responsible for processing 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. Where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law.

• h) processor

  Processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

• i) recipient

  Recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients.

• j) third party

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

• k) consent

  Consent of the data subject is any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

Name and Address of the Controller

The controller in the sense of the General Data Protection Regulation, other data protection laws applicable in the member states of the European Union, and other provisions with a data protection character is:

[company][owner][address][zip] [city][country][phone][mail][ust]

Cookies / SessionStorage / LocalStorage

The internet pages sometimes use so-called cookies, LocalStorage, and SessionStorage. This serves to make our offer more user-friendly, effective, and secure. Local Storage and SessionStorage is a technology with which your browser stores data on your computer or mobile device. Cookies are text files that are stored and saved on a computer system via an internet browser. You can prevent the use of cookies, LocalStorage, and SessionStorage by setting your browser accordingly.

Numerous internet pages and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a so-called cookie ID. A cookie ID is a unique identifier of the cookie. It consists of a string of characters by which internet pages and servers can be assigned to the specific internet browser in which the cookie was stored. This enables the visited internet pages and servers to distinguish the individual browser of the data subject from other internet browsers that contain other cookies. A specific internet browser can be recognized and identified via the unique cookie ID.

By using cookies, this website can provide more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the cookie setting.

By means of a cookie, the information and offers on our website can be optimized in the user’s interest. Cookies enable us, as already mentioned, to recognize the users of our website. The purpose of this recognition is to make it easier for users to use our website. For example, the user of a website that uses cookies does not have to re-enter their access data each time they visit the website, because this is taken over by the website and the cookie stored on the user’s computer system. Another example is the cookie of a shopping cart in the online shop. The online shop remembers the items that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart via a cookie.

The data subject can prevent the setting of cookies by our website at any time by means of a corresponding setting of the internet browser used and thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Furthermore, already set cookies can be deleted at any time via an internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all common internet browsers. If the data subject deactivates the setting of cookies in the internet browser used, not all functions of our website may be fully usable.

Collection of General Data and Information

The website collects a series of general data and information with each call of the website by a data subject or an automated system. This general data and information are stored in the log files of the server. The following can be recorded: (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrer), (4) the sub-websites that are accessed via an accessing system on our website, (5) the date and time of an access to the website, (6) an Internet Protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) other similar data and information that serve to avert danger in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.

When using this general data and information, we do not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimize the content of our website and the advertising for it, (3) ensure the permanent functionality of our information technology systems and the technology of our website, and (4) to provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for prosecution in the event of a cyberattack. These anonymously collected data and information are therefore evaluated by us statistically and furthermore with the aim of increasing data protection and data security in our company, in order to ultimately ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data processed by us. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.

Registration on our Website

The data subject has the option to register on the website of the controller by providing personal data. Which personal data is transmitted to the controller results from the respective input mask used for registration. The personal data entered by the data subject are collected and stored exclusively for internal use by the controller and for their own purposes. The controller may arrange for the transfer to one or more processors, for example, a parcel service provider, who also uses the personal data exclusively for internal use attributable to the controller.

By registering on the controller’s website, the IP address assigned by the data subject’s Internet service provider (ISP), the date, and the time of registration are also stored. The storage of this data takes place against the background that only in this way can the misuse of our services be prevented, and this data, if necessary, enables the investigation of committed criminal offenses. In this respect, the storage of this data is necessary to secure the controller. As a matter of principle, this data is not passed on to third parties, unless there is a legal obligation to pass it on or the passing on serves the purpose of criminal prosecution.

The registration of the data subject with voluntary provision of personal data serves the controller to offer the data subject content or services that, due to their nature, can only be offered to registered users. Registered persons are free to change the personal data provided during registration at any time or to have it completely deleted from the data stock of the controller.

The controller shall provide any data subject with information about the personal data stored about them at any time upon request. Furthermore, the controller shall correct or delete personal data at the request or instruction of the data subject, provided that no legal retention obligations conflict with this. All employees of the controller are available to the data subject as contact persons in this context.

Contact Possibility via the Website

The website contains, due to legal regulations, information that enables quick electronic contact with our company as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address of the so-called electronic mail (email address). If a data subject contacts the controller by email or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject will be automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted voluntarily by a data subject to the controller will be stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the data subject. There is no transfer of this personal data to third parties.

Comment Function in the Blog on the Website

We offer users the opportunity to leave individual comments on individual blog posts in a blog located on the controller’s website. A blog is a generally publicly accessible portal maintained on a website, in which one or more persons, called bloggers or web bloggers, can post articles or write down thoughts in so-called blog posts. Blog posts can generally be commented on by third parties.

If a data subject leaves a comment in the blog published on this website, in addition to the comments left by the data subject, information about the time of the comment entry and the username (pseudonym) chosen by the data subject will also be stored and published. Furthermore, the IP address assigned by the data subject’s Internet service provider (ISP) is logged. This storage of the IP address takes place for security reasons and in the event that the data subject violates the rights of third parties or posts illegal content through a submitted comment. The storage of this personal data is therefore in the controller’s own interest, so that they could exculpate themselves in the event of a legal violation. This collected personal data is not passed on to third parties, unless such a transfer is legally required or serves the legal defense of the controller.

Gravatar

For comments, the Gravatar service from Automattic is used. Gravatar matches your email address and, if you are registered there, displays your avatar image next to the comment. If you are not registered, no image will be displayed. It should be noted that all registered WordPress users are automatically registered with Gravatar. Details on Gravatar: https://de.gravatar.com

Routine Deletion and Blocking of Personal Data

The controller processes and stores personal data of the data subject only for the period necessary to achieve the storage purpose or as far as this has been provided for by the European legislator or another legislator in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject.

If the storage purpose ceases to apply or a storage period prescribed by the European legislator or another competent legislator expires, the personal data will be routinely blocked or deleted in accordance with legal provisions.

Rights of the Data Subject

• a) Right to confirmation

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning him or her are being processed. If a data subject wishes to avail himself of this right of confirmation, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.

• b) Right to information

  Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to obtain free information from the controller at any time about the personal data stored about them and a copy of this information. Furthermore, the European legislator has granted the data subject the right to information about the following:

  • the purposes of the processing
  • the categories of personal data concerned
  • the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organizations
  • where possible, the envisaged period for which the personal data will be stored, or, if not possible, the criteria used to determine that period
  • the existence of the right to request from the controller rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing concerning the data subject or to object to such processing
  • the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
  • where the personal data are not collected from the data subject: any available information as to their source
  • the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, referred to in Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in those cases, meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and the envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject

  Furthermore, the data subject has a right to information as to whether personal data has been transferred to a third country or to an international organization. If this is the case, the data subject also has the right to obtain information about the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer.

  If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to access, they may at any time contact any employee of the controller.

• c) Right to rectification

  Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to demand the immediate rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning them. Furthermore, the data subject has the right, taking into account the purposes of the processing, to demand the completion of incomplete personal data—also by means of a supplementary declaration.

  If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to rectification, they may at any time contact any employee of the controller.

• d) Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)

  Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to request from the controller that personal data concerning them be deleted without undue delay, provided one of the following reasons applies and insofar as the processing is not necessary:

  • The personal data were collected or otherwise processed for purposes for which they are no longer necessary.
  • The data subject withdraws their consent on which the processing was based according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a GDPR, and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
  • The data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR, and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 para. 2 GDPR.
  • The personal data have been unlawfully processed.
  • The deletion of personal data is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation under Union law or Member State law to which the controller is subject.
  • The personal data have been collected in relation to the offer of information society services referred to in Art. 8 para. 1 GDPR.

  If one of the above reasons applies and a data subject wishes to arrange for the deletion of personal data that is stored, they can contact an employee of the controller at any time. The employee will arrange for the deletion request to be complied with without undue delay.

  If the personal data have been made public and our company, as the controller, is obliged to delete the personal data pursuant to Art. 17 para. 1 GDPR, we shall take reasonable measures, including technical ones, taking into account available technology and the cost of implementation, to inform other controllers who are processing the published personal data that the data subject has requested the erasure by such other controllers of any links to, or copy or replication of, those personal data, insofar as processing is not required. The employee will arrange what is necessary in individual cases.

• e) Right to restriction of processing

  Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller restriction of processing where one of the following applies:

  • The accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
  • The processing is unlawful and the data subject opposes the erasure of the personal data and requests instead the restriction of their use.
  • The controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of the processing, but they are required by the data subject for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims.
  • The data subject has objected to processing pursuant to Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.

  If one of the above conditions is met and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of personal data that is stored, they can contact an employee of the controller at any time. The employee will arrange for the restriction of processing.

• f) Right to data portability

  Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to receive the personal data concerning them, which they have provided to a controller, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. They also have the right to transmit those data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data have been provided, where the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a GDPR or on a contract pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR and the processing is carried out by automated means, provided that the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

  Furthermore, in exercising their right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20 para. 1 GDPR, the data subject has the right to have the personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and provided that this does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

  To assert the right to data portability, the data subject can contact us at any time.

• g) Right to object

  Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to object, on grounds relating to their particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning them which is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e or f GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.

  In the event of an objection, we will no longer process the personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims.

  If we process personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject has the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning them for such marketing. This also applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to the processing for direct marketing purposes, we will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.

  Furthermore, the data subject has the right, on grounds relating to their particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning them for scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes pursuant to Art. 89 para. 1 GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.

  To exercise the right to object, the data subject can contact any employee directly. The data subject is also free, in the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to exercise their right to object by automated means using technical specifications.

• h) Automated individual decision-making, including profiling

  Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing — including profiling — which produces legal effects concerning them or similarly significantly affects them, provided that the decision (1) is not necessary for entering into, or performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) is authorised by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and which also lays down suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is based on the data subject’s explicit consent.

  If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into, or performance of, a contract between the data subject and the controller, or (2) is based on the data subject’s explicit consent, we shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express their point of view and to contest the decision.

  If the data subject wishes to exercise rights relating to automated decision-making, they may at any time contact any employee of the controller.

• i) Right to withdraw data protection consent

  Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator to withdraw consent to the processing of personal data at any time.

  If the data subject wishes to exercise their right to withdraw consent, they may at any time contact any employee of the controller.

Legal Basis for Processing

Art. 6 lit. a GDPR serves as the legal basis for our company’s processing operations where we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party, as is the case, for example, with processing operations that are necessary for the delivery of goods or the provision of any other service or consideration, the processing is based on Art. 6 lit. b GDPR. The same applies to such processing operations that are necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures, for example in cases of inquiries about our products or services. If our company is subject to a legal obligation by which the processing of personal data becomes necessary, such as for the fulfillment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6 lit. c GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data may become necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor to our premises were injured and their name, age, health insurance data, or other vital information had to be passed on to a doctor, hospital, or other third party. Then the processing would be based on Art. 6 lit. d GDPR.
Finally, processing operations could be based on Art. 6 lit. f GDPR. Processing operations not covered by any of the aforementioned legal bases are based on this legal basis if the processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by our company or by a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights, and freedoms of the data subject do not override. Such processing operations are particularly permitted to us because they were specifically mentioned by the European legislator. In this respect, he was of the opinion that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a client of the controller (Recital 47 Sentence 2 GDPR).

Legitimate Interests in the Processing Pursued by the Controller or a Third Party

If the processing of personal data is based on Article 6 lit. f GDPR, our legitimate interest is to carry out our business activities for the well-being of all our employees and shareholders.

Period for which the Personal Data Will be Stored

The criterion for the duration of the storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After the expiry of the period, the corresponding data will be routinely deleted, provided they are no longer necessary for contract fulfillment or contract initiation.

Statutory or Contractual Provisions for the Provision of Personal Data; Necessity for the Conclusion of the Contract; Obligation of the Data Subject to Provide the Personal Data; Possible Consequences of Non-Provision

We inform you that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g., tax regulations) or may result from contractual provisions (e.g., information about the contractual partner).
In some cases, it may be necessary for the conclusion of a contract that a data subject provides us with personal data, which must subsequently be processed by us. The data subject is, for example, obliged to provide us with personal data when our company enters into a contract with them. Non-provision of the personal data would have the consequence that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded.
Before personal data is provided by the data subject, the data subject must contact one of our employees. Our employee clarifies to the data subject on a case-by-case basis whether the provision of the personal data is required by law or contract or is necessary for the conclusion of the contract, whether there is an obligation to provide the personal data and the consequences of non-provision of the personal data.

Existence of Automated Decision-Making

As a responsible company, we do not use automatic decision-making or profiling.