Privacy policy

Newsletter and electronic notifications

We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter "newsletter") with the consent of the recipient or with legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described when registering for the newsletter, they are decisive for the user's consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

To subscribe to our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to provide your e-mail address. However, we may ask you to provide a name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter, or other information if this is necessary 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 procedure. This means that after registering you will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no-one can register with other people's e-mail addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored by the mailing service provider are also logged.

Erasure and restriction of processing:  We may store the unsubscribed e-mail addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove that consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual request for erasure is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time. In the event of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the e-mail address in a block list solely for this purpose.

The registration process is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of verifying that it is carried out properly. 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 sending system.

Contents:

Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.

• Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
• Persons concerned: Communication partners; customers; interested parties; users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of the processing: Direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post); marketing; reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors).
• Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
• Possibility of objection (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 unsubscribe from the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can use one of the contact options listed above, preferably e-mail.

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Measurement of opening and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called "web-beacon", i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server when the newsletter is opened or, if we use a mailing service provider, from their server. As part of this retrieval, technical information, such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, is initially collected. This information is used for the technical improvement of our newsletter based on the technical data or the target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined with the help of the IP address) or the access times. This analysis also includes determining whether the newsletters are opened, when they are opened and which links are clicked. This information is assigned to the individual newsletter recipients and stored in their profiles until they are deleted. The evaluations help us to recognize the reading habits of our users and to adapt our content to them or to send different content according to the interests of our users. the measurement of opening rates and click rates as well as the storage of the measurement results in the profiles of the users and their further processing are based on the consent of the users. Unfortunately, it is not possible to revoke the performance measurement separately; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be canceled or objected to. In this case, the stored profile information will be deleted; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).
• Brevo: E-mail dispatch and automation services; Service provider: Sendinblue GmbH, Köpenicker Str. 126, 10179 Berlin, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.brevo.com/; Privacy policy: https://www.brevo.com/legal/privacypolicy/; Order processing contract: Provided by the service provider.
• Zapier: Automation of processes, consolidation of various services, import and export of personal and contact data and analysis of these processes; Service provider: Zapier, Inc, 548 Market St #62411, San Francisco, California 94104, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://zapier.com; Privacy policy: https://zapier.com/privacy; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection for processing in third countries): https://zapier.com/tos (part of the GTC).

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

Web analysis (also referred to as "reach measurement") is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to our online offering and may include behavior, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, recognize at what time our online offer or its functions or content are most frequently used or invite reuse. We can also understand which areas require optimization.

In addition to web analysis, we may also use test procedures, e.g. to test and optimize different versions of our online offering or its components.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e. data summarized for a usage process, can be created for these purposes and information can be stored in a browser or in an end device and read out from it. The information collected includes, in particular, websites visited and the elements used there as well as 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 from us or from the providers of the services we use, location data may also be processed.

The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, we use an IP masking procedure (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored in the context of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, but pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the software used know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective processes.

• Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
• Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of the processing: Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles); provision of our online offer and user-friendliness; tracking (e.g. interest/behavior-related profiling, use of cookies); click tracking; A/B tests; heat maps (mouse movements by users that are combined into an overall picture).
• Safety measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
• Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Google Analytics 4: We use Google Analytics to measure and analyze the use of our online offering on the basis of a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number does not contain any unique data, such as names or e-mail addresses. It is used to assign analysis information to an end device in order to recognize which content users have called up within one or more usage processes, which search terms they have used, which they have called up again or which they have interacted with our online offering. The time of use and its duration are also stored, as well as the sources of the users who refer to our online offering and technical aspects of their end devices and browsers. Pseudonymous profiles of users are created with information from the use of various devices, whereby cookies may be used. In Google Analytics, data on geographical location is processed at a higher level by collecting the following metadata based on the IP search: "city" (and the derived latitude and longitude of the city), "continent", "country", "region", "subcontinent" (and the ID-based equivalents). To ensure the protection of user data in the EU, Google receives and processes all user data via domains and servers within the EU. The IP address of users is not logged and is shortened by the last two digits by default. The IP address is shortened on EU servers for EU users. In addition, all sensitive data collected from users in the EU is deleted before it is collected via EU domains and servers; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Order processing contract: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Possibility of objection (opt-out): Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=deSettings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (Types of processing and data processed).
• 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 information in this privacy policy). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) does not 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 Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Order processing contract: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms.
• Hotjar Observe: Software for the analysis and optimization of online offers on the basis of pseudonymous measurements and analyses of user behavior, which may include in particular A/B tests (measurement of the popularity and user-friendliness of different content and functions), measurement of click paths and interaction with content and functions of the online offer (so-called heat maps and recordings); Service provider: Hotjar Ltd, 3 Lyons Range, 20 Bisazza Street, Sliema SLM 1640, Malta ; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.hotjar.com; Privacy policy:  https://www.hotjar.com/legal/policies/privacy; Deletion of data: The cookies that Hotjar uses have different "lifespans"; some remain valid for up to 365 days, some only during the current visit; Cookie Policy: https://www.hotjar.com/legal/policies/cookie-information; Possibility of objection (opt-out): https://www.hotjar.com/legal/compliance/opt-out.

Online marketing

We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include in particular the marketing of advertising space or the presentation of advertising and other content (collectively referred to as "content") based on the potential interests of users and the measurement of 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 information about the user relevant for the presentation of the aforementioned content is stored. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites 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 and functions used. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this can also be processed.

The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, we use available IP masking procedures (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored as part of the online marketing process, but pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the online marketing processes know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

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

In exceptional cases, clear data can be assigned to the profiles. This is the case, for example, if the users are members of a social network whose online marketing processes we use and the network links the user profiles with the aforementioned data. Please note that users can make additional agreements with the providers, e.g. by giving their consent during registration.

In principle, we only receive access to summarized information about the success of our advertisements. However, as part of so-called conversion measurements, we can check which of our online marketing procedures have led to a so-called conversion, i.e., for example, to the conclusion of a contract with us. The conversion measurement is used solely to analyze the success of our marketing measures.

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

• Processed data types: Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); event data (Facebook) ("event data" is data that can be transmitted by us to Facebook via Facebook pixels (via apps or other means), for example, and relates to people or their actions; the data includes, for example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; the event data is used to form target groups for content and advertising information (custom audiences). 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 does not include the actual content (such as comments written), no login information and no contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses and telephone numbers). Event data will be deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, the target groups formed from them with the deletion of our Facebook account); contact information (Facebook) ("contact information" is data that (clearly) identifies data subjects, such as names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers, which can be transmitted to Facebook, e.g. via Facebook pixels or uploads for matching purposes for the purpose of creating custom audiences; after matching for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted).
• Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of the processing: Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); tracking (e.g. interest/behavioral profiling, use of cookies); conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures); target group formation; marketing; profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles); provision of our online offer and user-friendliness; click tracking.
• Safety measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
• Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
• Possibility of objection (opt-out): We refer to the data protection notices of the respective providers and the opt-out options provided by the providers. If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you have the option of deactivating cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict the functions of our online offer. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are summarized for the respective areas: a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu. b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices. c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices. d) Cross-territory: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Facebook pixel and target group formation (Custom Audiences): With the help of the Facebook pixel (or comparable functions, for the transmission of event data or contact information by means of interfaces in apps), Facebook is able to determine the visitors of our online offer as a target group for the display of ads (so-called "Facebook ads"). Accordingly, we use the Facebook pixel to display the Facebook ads placed by us only to such users on Facebook and within the services of the partners cooperating with Facebook (so-called "Audience Network"). https://www.facebook.com/audiencenetwork/ ) who have also shown an interest in our online offering or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interest in certain topics or products that can be seen from the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called "Custom Audiences"). With the help of the Facebook pixel, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of users and are not annoying. With the help of the Facebook pixel, we can also track the effectiveness of Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users have been redirected to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (so-called "conversion measurement"); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Further information: Event user data, i.e. behavioral and interest data, is processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and target group formation on the basis of the agreement on joint responsibility ("Addendum for Responsible Parties", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum) is processed. The joint controllership is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.)
• Advanced matching for the Facebook pixel: In addition to the processing of event data as part of the use of the Facebook pixel (or comparable functions, e.g. in apps), contact information (data identifying individual persons, such as names, email addresses and telephone numbers) is also collected by Facebook within our online offering or transmitted to Facebook. The processing of contact information is used to create target groups (so-called "custom audiences") for the display of content and advertising information based on the presumed interests of users. The collection, transmission and comparison with data available on Facebook is not carried out in plain text, but as so-called "hash values", i.e. mathematical representations of the data (this method is used, for example, when storing passwords). After the comparison for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted. The contact information is processed on the basis of an order processing contract withMeta Platforms Ireland Limited ("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). Further information on the processing of contact information can be found in the "Terms of Use for Facebook Business Tools", https://www.facebook.com/legal/technology_terms.; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).
• Facebook - target group education via data upload: Creation of target groups for marketing purposes - We transmit contact information (names, email addresses and telephone numbers) in list form to Facebook for the purpose of creating target groups (so-called "custom audiences") for the display of content and advertising information based on the presumed interests of users. The transmission and comparison with data available on Facebook does not take place in plain text, but as so-called "hash values", i.e. mathematical representations of the data (this method is used, for example, when storing passwords). After the comparison for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted. The contact information is processed on the basis of an order processing contract withMeta Platforms Ireland Limited ("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). Further information on the processing of contact information can be found in the "Terms of use for Custom Audiences with customer list", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/customaudience; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Order processing contract: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection for processing in third countries): https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum.
• Facebook ads: Placement of ads within the Facebook platform and evaluation of the ad results; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Possibility of objection (opt-out): We refer to the data protection and advertising settings in the user's profile on the Facebook platform as well as in the context of Facebook's consent procedure and Facebook's contact options for exercising information and other data subject rights in Facebook's privacy policy; Further information: Event user data, i.e. behavioral and interest data, is processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and target group formation on the basis of the agreement on joint responsibility ("Addendum for Responsible Parties", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum) is processed. The joint controllership is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.)
• Google Ads and conversion measurement: Online marketing processes for the purpose of placing content and ads within the service provider's advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who are presumed to be interested in the ads. In addition, we measure the conversion of the ads, i.e. whether users have taken them as an opportunity to interact with the ads and use the advertised offers (so-called conversion). However, we only receive anonymous information and no personal information about individual users; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: Types of processing and the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservicesData processing conditions between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
• Extended conversions for Google Ads: When customers click on our Google ads and subsequently use the advertised service (so-called "conversion"), the data entered by the user, such as the e-mail address, name, home address or telephone number, can be transmitted to Google. The hash values are then compared with users' existing Google accounts in order to better evaluate and improve user interaction with the ads (e.g. clicks or views) and thus their performance; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9888656.
• 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 Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: Types of processing and the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
• 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 Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: Types of processing and data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservicesGoogle Ads Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms and standard contractual clauses for data transfers to third countries: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
• Instagram ads: Placement of advertisements within the Instagram platform and evaluation of the advertising results; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy; Possibility of objection (opt-out): We refer to the data protection and advertising settings in the user's profile on the Instagram platform as well as in the context of Instagram's consent procedure and Instagram's contact options for exercising information and other data subject rights in Instagram's privacy policy; Further information: Event user data, i.e. behavioral and interest data, is processed for the purposes of targeted advertising and target group formation on the basis of the agreement on joint responsibility ("Addendum for Responsible Parties", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum) is processed. The joint controllership is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.)
• LinkedIn: Insights tag / conversion measurement; Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policyCookie Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie_policy; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection for processing in third countries): https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Possibility of objection (opt-out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
• UTM parameters: Analyzing sources and user actions based on an extension of web addresses referring to us with an additional parameter, the "UTM" parameter. For example, a UTM parameter "utm_source=platformX &utm_medium=video" can tell us that a person clicked the link on platform X within a video. The UTM parameters provide information about the source of the link, the medium used (e.g. social media, website, newsletter), the type of campaign or the content of the campaign (e.g. post, link, image and video). We can use this information, for example, to check our visibility on the internet or the effectiveness of our campaigns; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Customer reviews and evaluation process

We participate in review and rating procedures in order to evaluate, optimize and promote our services. If users rate us or otherwise provide feedback via the participating review platforms or procedures, the general terms and conditions or terms of use and the providers' data protection notices also apply. As a rule, the evaluation also requires registration with the respective providers.

In order to ensure that the reviewers have actually used our services, we transmit the necessary data relating to the customer and the service used (including name, email address and order number or item number) to the relevant review platform with the customer's consent. This data is used solely to verify the authenticity of the user.

• Processed data types: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
• Persons concerned: Customers; users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of the processing: Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); marketing.
• Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Google customer reviews: Service for obtaining and/or presenting customer satisfaction and customer opinions; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); AGB: https://support.google.com/merchants/topic/7259129?hl=de&ref_topic=7257954; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: As part of the collection of customer reviews, an identification number and time for the business transaction to be evaluated, in the case of review requests sent directly to customers, the customer's e-mail address and their country of residence as well as the review details themselves are processed; further information on the types of processing and the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Data processing conditions for Google advertising products: Information on the services Data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
• Trustpilot: Evaluation platform; Service provider: Trustpilot A/S, Pilestræde 58, 5, 1112 Copenhagen, Denmark; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://de.trustpilot.com; Privacy policy: https://de.legal.trustpilot.com/end-user-privacy-terms.

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 the users active there or to offer information about us.

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

Furthermore, user data within social networks is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of users. The user profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are generally stored on the user's computer, in which the user's usage behavior and interests are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the user profiles independently 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 description of the respective forms of processing and the opt-out options, please refer to the data protection declarations and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

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

• Processed data types: 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 and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status).
• Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of the processing: Contact requests and communication; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); marketing.
• Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Instagram: Social network; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.
• Facebook pages: Profiles within the social network Facebook - We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited 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 "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 users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see "Device information" in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under "How do we use this information?", Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, known as "Page Insights", to Page owners to help them understand how people interact with their Pages and the 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); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection for processing in third countries): https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum; Further information: Agreement on joint responsibility: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data. The joint responsibility is limited to the collection by and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, which in particular concerns the transfer of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA (on the basis of the standard contractual clauses concluded between Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Meta Platforms, Inc.)
• LinkedIn: Social network; Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Order processing contract: https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Standard contractual clauses (guaranteeing the level of data protection for processing in third countries): https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa; Possibility of objection (opt-out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
• Twitter: Social network; 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; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Privacy policy: https://twitter.com/privacy, (Settings: https://twitter.com/personalization).
• Xing: Social network; Service provider: New Work SE, Am Strandkai 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.xing.de; Privacy policy: https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung.

Plugins and embedded functions and content

We incorporate functional and content elements into our online offering that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as "third-party providers"). These may be, 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, as they would not be able to send the content to their browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or function. We endeavor to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as "web beacons") for statistical or marketing purposes. Pixel tags can be used to analyze 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 offer, as well as being linked to such information from other sources.

• Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta, communication and process data (e.g. IP addresses, time data, identification numbers, consent status); inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms); location data (information on the geographical position of a device or person).
• Persons concerned: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of the processing: Provision of our online services and user-friendliness; provision of contractual services and customer service.
• Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

• Integration of third-party software, scripts or frameworks (e.g. jQuery): We integrate software into our online offering that we retrieve from servers of other providers (e.g. function libraries that we use for the purpose of displaying or user-friendliness of our online offering). The respective providers collect the IP address of the users and can process it for the purpose of transmitting the software to the user's browser and for security purposes, as well as for the evaluation and optimization of their offer. - We integrate software into our online offering that we retrieve from servers of other providers (e.g. function libraries that we use for the purpose of displaying or user-friendliness of our online offering). The respective providers collect the IP address of the user and can process it for the purpose of transmitting the software to the user's browser and for security purposes, as well as for the evaluation and optimization of their offer; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
• Google Fonts (provision on own server): Provision of font files for the purpose of a user-friendly presentation of our online offer; Service provider: The Google Fonts are hosted on our server, no data is transmitted to Google; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
• Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the "Google Maps" service provided by Google. The processed data may include, in particular, IP addresses and user location data; Service provider: Google Cloud EMEA Limited, 70 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website:  https://mapsplatform.google.com/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
• reCAPTCHA: We integrate the "reCAPTCHA" function in order to be able to recognize whether entries (e.g. in online forms) are made by humans and not by automatically acting machines (so-called "bots"). The processed data may include IP addresses, information on operating systems, devices or browsers used, language settings, location, mouse movements, keyboard strokes, time spent on websites, previously visited websites, interactions with ReCaptcha on other websites, possibly cookies and results of manual recognition processes (e.g. answering questions asked or selecting objects in images). Data processing is carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest in protecting our online offering from abusive automated crawling and spam; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Possibility of objection (opt-out): Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=deSettings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
• YouTube videos: Video content; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.youtube.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Possibility of objection (opt-out): Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=deSettings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
• Font Awesome (obtained from the provider's server): Obtaining fonts (and symbols) for the purpose of a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts and symbols with regard to up-to-dateness and loading times, their uniform presentation and consideration of possible licensing restrictions. The provider of the fonts is informed of the user's IP address so that the fonts can be made available in the user's browser. In addition, technical data (language settings, screen resolution, operating system, hardware used) are transmitted that are necessary for the provision of the fonts depending on the devices used and the technical environment; Service provider:  Fonticons, Inc. 6 Porter Road Apartment 3R, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://fontawesome.com/; Privacy policy: https://fontawesome.com/privacy.
• 3Q GmbH: Provision of videos; Service provider: 3Q GmbHBelfortstr. 581667 Munich; Website: https://3q.video/.

Amendment and updating of the privacy policy

We ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes to 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.

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

Definitions of terms

This section provides you with an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Insofar as the terms are defined by law, their legal definitions apply. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding.

• A/B tests: A/B tests are used to improve the user-friendliness and performance of online offers. For example, users are shown different versions of a website or its elements, such as input forms, on which the placement of the content or the labels of the navigation elements can differ. The behavior of the users, e.g. longer time spent on the website or more frequent interaction with the elements, can then be used to determine which of these websites or elements are more likely to meet the needs of the users.
• Heatmaps: "Heatmaps" are mouse movements of users that are summarized into an overall picture, which can be used, for example, to recognize which website elements are preferred and which website elements users prefer less.
• Click tracking: Click tracking allows us to monitor the movements of users within an entire online offering. As the results of these tests are more accurate if the interaction of users can be tracked over a certain period of time (e.g. so that we can find out whether a user likes to return), cookies are usually stored on the user's computer for these test purposes.
• Conversion measurement: Conversion measurement (also known as "visit action evaluation") is a process that can be used to determine the effectiveness of marketing measures. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the user's device within the websites on which the marketing measures take place and then retrieved again on the target website. For example, this allows us to track whether the ads we placed on other websites were 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 this personal data to analyze, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include various information relating to 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.
• Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also known as web analytics) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to an online offering and can include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can, for example, recognize at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This allows them to better adapt the content of the website to the needs of their visitors, for example. For the purposes of reach analysis, pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used to recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offer.
• Location data: Location data is generated when a mobile device (or another device with the technical requirements for location determination) connects to a radio cell, a WLAN or similar technical means and functions of location determination. Location data is used to indicate the geographically determinable position on earth at which the respective device is located. Location data can be used, for example, to display map functions or other location-dependent information.
• Tracking: The term "tracking" is used when the behavior of users can be tracked across several online offerings. As a rule, behavioral and interest information is stored in cookies or on the servers of the providers of the tracking technologies with regard to the online offers used (so-called profiling). This information can then be used, for example, to display advertisements to users that are likely to correspond to their interests.
• Responsible person: The "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 on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers practically every handling of data, be it collection, analysis, storage, transmission or deletion.
• Target group formation: Custom audiences are defined as target groups for advertising purposes, e.g. the display of advertisements. For example, based on a user's interest in certain products or topics on the Internet, it can be concluded that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online store in which they viewed the products. In turn, "lookalike audiences" (or similar target groups) are when the content deemed suitable is displayed to users whose profiles or interests presumably correspond to the users for whom the profiles were created. Cookies and web beacons are generally used for the purpose of creating custom audiences and lookalike audiences.