Data privacy notice

1. Privacy at a Glance

General Information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data that can be used to personally identify you. For detailed information on the subject of data protection, please refer to our privacy policy listed below this text.

Data Collection on This Website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the section "Notice Regarding the Responsible Party" in this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected in part by you providing it to us. This may include, for example, data you enter into a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically or with your consent when you visit the website by our IT systems. This is primarily technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour. If contracts can be concluded or initiated via the website, the transmitted data will also be processed for contract offers, orders, or other order requests.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to receive information free of charge about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time for the future. You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of processing of your personal data. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

You can contact us at any time regarding this and other questions on the subject of data protection.

2. Hosting and Content Delivery Networks (CDN)

We host the content of our website with the following provider:

External Hosting

This website is hosted externally. The personal data collected on this website is stored on the servers of the host(s). This may include IP addresses, contact requests, meta and communication data, contract data, contact details, names, website accesses, and other data generated via a website.

External hosting is carried out for the purpose of fulfilling contracts with our potential and existing customers (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) and in the interest of a secure, fast, and efficient provision of our online offering by a professional provider (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Our host(s) will only process your data to the extent necessary to fulfil their service obligations and follow our instructions regarding this data.

We use the following host(s):

internex GmbH
Lagerstraße 15
3950 Gmünd, Austria

Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required by data protection law that ensures that this service processes the personal data of our website visitors only according to our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

Cloudflare

We use the service "Cloudflare". The provider is Cloudflare Inc., 101 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107, USA (hereinafter "Cloudflare").

Cloudflare offers a globally distributed content delivery network with DNS. The transfer of information between your browser and our website is technically routed through Cloudflare's network. This enables Cloudflare to analyse the traffic between your browser and our website and act as a filter between our servers and potentially malicious traffic from the internet. Cloudflare may also use cookies or other technologies to recognise internet users, which are used solely for the purpose described here.

The use of Cloudflare is based on our legitimate interest in providing our web offering as error-free and secure as possible (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details and further information on security and data protection at Cloudflare can be found here: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/

The company holds certification under the "EU-US Data Privacy Framework" (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA intended to ensure compliance with European data protection standards for data processing in the USA. Every company certified under the DPF commits to complying with these data protection standards. Further information can be obtained from the provider at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5666

Data Processing Agreement

3. General Information and Mandatory Disclosures

Data Protection

The operators of these pages 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.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data that can be used to 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 is done.

We would like to point out 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.

Notice Regarding the Responsible Party

The responsible party for data processing on this website is:

Brauns-Heitmann GmbH & Co. KG
Lütkefeld 15
34414 Warburg
Phone: +49 56 41 / 950
Email: [email protected]

The responsible party is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g. names, email addresses, etc.).

Retention Period

Unless a more specific retention period has been stated within this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for data processing no longer applies. If you assert a legitimate request for deletion or revoke consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g. retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, deletion will take place after these reasons cease to apply.

General Information on the Legal Bases for Data Processing on This Website

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR, if special categories of data are processed pursuant to Art. 9(1) GDPR. In the case of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also based on Art. 49(1)(a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access to information on your device (e.g. via device fingerprinting), data processing is additionally based on § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required for the fulfilment of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if this is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Information on the relevant legal bases in each individual case is provided in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Data Protection Officer

We have appointed a data protection officer.

ecoprotec GmbH
Pamplonastraße 19
33106 Paderborn

Email: [email protected]

Notice on Data Transfer to Third Countries Not Deemed Safe Under Data Protection Law and Transfer to US Companies Not Certified under the DPF

We use, among other things, tools from companies based in third countries that are not considered safe under data protection law, as well as US tools whose providers are not certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF). When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in these countries. We would like to point out that no level of data protection comparable to that in the EU can be guaranteed in third countries that are not considered safe under data protection law.

We would like to point out that the USA, as a safe third country, generally offers a level of data protection comparable to that of the EU. Data transfer to the USA is therefore permissible if the recipient holds certification under the "EU-US Data Privacy Framework" (DPF) or has appropriate additional safeguards. Information on transfers to third countries, including the data recipients, can be found in this privacy policy.

Recipients of Personal Data

In the course of our business activities, we work with various external parties. This sometimes requires the transfer of personal data to these external parties. We only pass on personal data to external parties if this is necessary for the fulfilment of a contract, if we are legally obliged to do so (e.g. passing on data to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR in the transfer, or if another legal basis permits the transfer of data. When using processors, we only pass on personal data of our customers on the basis of a valid data processing agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.

Revocation of Your Consent to Data Processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke consent you have already given at any time. The lawfulness of data processing carried out before the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to Object to Data Collection in Special Cases and to Direct Marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6(1)(E) OR (F) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR AFFECTED PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR PROCESSING THAT OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING SERVES THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE, OR DEFENCE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(1) GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING INSOFAR AS IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(2) GDPR).

Right to Lodge a Complaint with the Competent Supervisory Authority

In the event of breaches of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the member state of their habitual residence, their place of work, or the place of the alleged breach. The right to lodge a complaint exists without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy.

Right to Data Portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfilment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of data to another controller, this will only be done to the extent that it is technically feasible.

Access, Rectification, and Erasure

Within the scope of the applicable statutory provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients, and the purpose of data processing, and, if applicable, the right to rectification or erasure of this data. You can contact us at any time regarding this and other questions on the subject of personal data.

Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request the restriction of processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time for this purpose. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored with us, we generally need time to verify this. For the duration of the verification, you have the right to request the restriction of processing of your personal data.
If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of erasure.
If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend, or assert legal claims, you have the right to request restriction of processing of your personal data instead of erasure.
If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data — apart from its storage — may only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise, or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a member state.

SSL and TLS Encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or enquiries that you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Encrypted Payment Transactions on This Website

If there is an obligation to transmit your payment data (e.g. account number for direct debit authorisation) to us after the conclusion of a fee-based contract, this data is required for payment processing.

Payment transactions using common payment methods (Visa/MasterCard, direct debit) are carried out exclusively via an encrypted SSL or TLS connection. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

With encrypted communication, the payment data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Objection to Advertising Emails

The use of contact data published within the scope of the imprint obligation for sending unsolicited advertising and information materials is hereby objected to. The operators of the pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of advertising information, for example through spam emails.

4. Data Collection on This Website

Cookies

Our websites use so-called "cookies". Cookies are small data packages that do not cause any damage to your device. They are stored either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or until they are automatically deleted by your web browser.

Cookies may originate from us (first-party cookies) or from third-party companies (so-called third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain services from third-party companies within websites (e.g. cookies for processing payment services).

Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g. the shopping cart function or the display of videos). Other cookies can be used to analyse user behaviour or for advertising purposes.

Cookies that are necessary for carrying out the electronic communication process, for providing certain functions you have requested (e.g. for the shopping cart function), or for optimising the website (e.g. cookies for measuring the web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimised provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG); consent can be revoked at any time.

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 certain cases or in general, and to activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. When cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be restricted.

If further cookies and services are used on this website, you will find information on this in this privacy policy.

Consent with Cookiebot

Our website uses Cookiebot's consent technology to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies on your device or to the use of certain technologies and to document this in a data protection-compliant manner. The provider of this technology is Usercentrics A/S, Havnegade 39, 1058 Copenhagen, Denmark (hereinafter "Cookiebot").

When you enter our website, a connection is established to Cookiebot's servers to obtain your consents and other declarations regarding cookie usage. Cookiebot then stores a cookie in your browser to be able to assign the consents granted or their revocation to you. The data collected in this way is stored until you request us to delete it, delete the Cookiebot cookie yourself, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies. Mandatory statutory retention obligations remain unaffected.

Cookiebot is used to obtain the legally required consents for the use of cookies. The legal basis for this is Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR.

Server Log Files

The provider of the pages 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
Hostname of the accessing computer
Time of the server request
IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.

This data is collected on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimisation of its website — for this purpose, the server log files must be recorded.

Use of AI on the Website

We use AI-supported services and/or applications on our website.

We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) on our website as follows:

Lime Connect (Userlike) GmbH
Probsteigasse 44–46
50670 Cologne

When you interact with or come into contact with elements on our website in which artificial intelligence is used (e.g. chatbot), your inputs including metadata are processed in order to generate an appropriate response or reaction.

The use of these AI-supported functions is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in using modern technologies on our website to improve our services and to identify new potential from interactions with our customers. If consent is required, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. You can revoke your consent at any time.

Further information on data processing by this tool or service can be found at the relevant point in this privacy policy.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Responding to Customer Enquiries

We use AI-supported software to process and respond to customer enquiries. The AI we use analyses the content of your message in order to generate an appropriate response or response suggestion autonomously or partially autonomously. In this context, our AI processes all content of your message, including names, email addresses, communication content, or technical information (e.g. IP addresses, device information).

The use of the AI software is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the most efficient customer communication possible using modern technical solutions.

Enquiries by Email, Phone, or Fax

If you contact us by email, phone, or fax, your enquiry including all resulting personal data (name, enquiry) will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of processing your request. We do not pass on this data without your consent.

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, if your enquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or is necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of enquiries directed to us (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time.

The data you send to us via contact requests will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been fully processed). Mandatory statutory provisions — in particular statutory retention periods — remain unaffected.

Use of Chatbots

We use chatbots to communicate with you. Chatbots are able to respond to your questions and other inputs without human assistance. To do this, chatbots analyse your inputs as well as other data to provide appropriate responses (e.g. names, email addresses and other contact details, customer numbers and other identifiers, orders, and chat histories). Furthermore, your IP address, log files, location information, and other metadata may be captured via the chatbot. This data is stored on the servers of the chatbot provider.

User profiles can be created on the basis of the data collected. In addition, the data may be used to display interest-based advertising, provided the other legal requirements (in particular consent) are met. For this purpose, chatbots can be linked to analysis and advertising tools.

The data collected may also be used to improve our chatbots and their response behaviour (machine learning).

The data you enter during communication will remain with us or the chatbot operator until you request deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been fully processed). Mandatory statutory provisions — in particular retention periods — remain unaffected.

The legal basis for the use of chatbots is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, if the chatbot is used for the initiation or fulfilment of a contract. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time. In all other cases, use is based on our legitimate interest in the most effective customer communication possible (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Use of AI-Supported Chatbots (Lime Connect / "Connect AI")

We use a chatbot on our website to communicate with you and to process your enquiries. The provider of this chatbot service is:

Lime Connect (Userlike) GmbH
Probsteigasse 44–46
50670 Cologne

The chatbot is able to respond to your inputs without human assistance. To do this, it analyses your inputs as well as other data to provide appropriate responses. The data processed includes in particular:

Content of your messages (chat histories, transcripts)
Contact details you provide in the chat (e.g. name, email address, customer number)
Technical information such as IP address, device information, log files, and metadata

The data collected during communication is stored until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been fully processed). Mandatory statutory provisions — in particular retention periods — remain unaffected.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Chatbot

The chatbot uses the "Connect AI" function from Lime Connect. The AI analyses the content of your message in order to generate an appropriate response in an automated or partially automated manner, or to provide our staff with response suggestions or to create conversation summaries for internal use.

To generate responses, Lime Connect uses generative AI in the form of Large Language Models (LLMs), which are hosted by the following sub-processors:

Amazon Web Services EMEA SARL (AWS Bedrock), 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg – Model: current language model of the provider. Server location: EU/EEA data centres.
Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd. (Microsoft Azure), One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 P521, Ireland – Model: current language model of the provider. Server location: EU (European Union Data Zone).

When you contact us via the chatbot, your enquiries including metadata may be transmitted to the provider's servers and processed there to generate an appropriate response.

The selection of the model used is at the discretion of Lime Connect. We do not use the models of the providers Anthropic and OpenAI directly; processing is carried out exclusively via the aforementioned EU hosting infrastructures of AWS and Microsoft respectively. According to the providers, processing takes place in data centres within the EU. Access from third countries cannot, however, be completely excluded.

To the extent that access from third countries (e.g. by group companies of the hosting providers) cannot be excluded in individual cases, this is carried out on the basis of standard contractual clauses pursuant to Art. 46 GDPR and supplementary technical and organisational measures.

Data Processing Agreement and Legal Bases

We have concluded a data processing agreement with Lime Connect pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR. Lime Connect has in turn concluded corresponding agreements with the sub-processors used.

The use of the chatbot is based on different legal bases:

(1) Chat function and contractual relationship
To the extent that processing is necessary for responding to your enquiry or for carrying out pre-contractual measures or for the fulfilment of a contract, it is carried out on the basis of Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR.

(2) Operation, security, and optimisation of the system and AI-supported processing
The processing of personal data in the context of technical operation, security, and improvement of the chat function and AI-supported processing is carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest in efficient and modern customer communication pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

(3) Storage on end devices / cookies
To the extent that cookies or comparable technologies are used in the context of operating the chatbot or AI technology, this is carried out on the basis of your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR in conjunction with § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Further information on data processing by Lime Connect can be found in the provider's privacy policy at: https://www.userlike.com/de/terms#privacy-policy

Registration on This Website

You can register on this website to use additional functions on the site. We use the data entered for this purpose only for the purpose of using the respective offer or service for which you have registered. The mandatory information requested during registration must be provided in full. Otherwise we will reject the registration.

For important changes, such as changes to the scope of the offer or technically necessary changes, we will use the email address provided during registration to inform you in this way.

Processing of the data entered during registration is carried out for the purpose of implementing the user relationship established by the registration and, if applicable, for the initiation of further contracts (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

The data collected during registration is stored by us for as long as you are registered on this website and will then be deleted. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

5. Social Media

Facebook

Elements of the social network Facebook are integrated on this website. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland. According to Facebook, the data collected is also transferred to the USA and other third countries.

An overview of the Facebook social media elements can be found here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/?locale=de_DE

When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the Facebook server. Facebook thereby receives the information that you have visited this website with your IP address. If you click the Facebook "Like" button while you are logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of this website on your Facebook profile. This allows Facebook to associate the visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that we as the provider of the pages have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Facebook. Further information can be found in Facebook's privacy policy at: https://de-de.facebook.com/privacy/explanation

The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

To the extent that personal data is collected on our website using the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road Dublin 4, Dublin, D04 X2K5, Ireland are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). The joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of the data and its transmission to Facebook. The processing carried out by Facebook after the forwarding is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations incumbent on us jointly have been set out in a joint processing agreement. The text of the agreement can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing the data protection information when using the Facebook tool and for the data protection-compliant implementation of the tool on our website. Facebook is responsible for the data security of Facebook products. You can assert data subject rights (e.g. requests for information) regarding data processed by Facebook directly with Facebook. If you assert data subject rights with us, we are obliged to forward them to Facebook.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum, https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381 and https://www.facebook.com/policy.php

Instagram

Functions of the Instagram service are integrated on this website. These functions are offered by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.

When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the Instagram server. Instagram thereby receives information about your visit to this website.

If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of this website to your Instagram profile by clicking the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate the visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that we as the provider of the pages have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Instagram.

The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

To the extent that personal data is collected on our website using the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook or Instagram, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road Dublin 4, Dublin, D04 X2K5, Ireland are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). The joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of the data and its transmission to Facebook or Instagram. The processing carried out by Facebook or Instagram after the forwarding is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations incumbent on us jointly have been set out in a joint processing agreement. The text of the agreement can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing the data protection information when using the Facebook or Instagram tool and for the data protection-compliant implementation of the tool on our website. Facebook is responsible for the data security of Facebook and Instagram products. You can assert data subject rights (e.g. requests for information) regarding data processed by Facebook or Instagram directly with Facebook. If you assert data subject rights with us, we are obliged to forward them to Facebook.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum, https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/ and https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381

Further information can be found in Instagram's privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/

6. Analytics Tools and Advertising

Google Tag Manager

We use the Google Tag Manager. The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

The Google Tag Manager is a tool that allows us to integrate tracking or statistics tools and other technologies on our website. The Google Tag Manager itself does not create any user profiles, does not store cookies, and does not carry out any independent analyses. It serves only to manage and display the tools integrated through it. However, the Google Tag Manager does collect your IP address, which may also be transmitted to Google's parent company in the United States.

The use of the Google Tag Manager is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the quick and uncomplicated integration and management of various tools on its website. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Google Analytics

This website uses functions of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Analytics enables the website operator to analyse the behaviour of website visitors. The website operator receives various usage data, such as page views, length of visit, operating systems used, and the user's origin. This data is assigned to the respective end device of the user. An assignment to a user ID does not take place.

Furthermore, we can use Google Analytics to record, among other things, your mouse and scroll movements and clicks. Google Analytics also uses various modelling approaches to supplement the collected data sets and uses machine learning technologies in data analysis.

Google Analytics uses technologies that enable the recognition of the user for the purpose of analysing user behaviour (e.g. cookies or device fingerprinting). The information collected by Google about the use of this website is generally transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms/sccs/

IP Anonymisation

Google Analytics IP anonymisation is activated. As a result, your IP address is shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened 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 relating to website and internet use to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser in the context of Google Analytics will not be merged with other data from Google.

Browser Plugin

You can prevent the collection and processing of your data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de

More information on how Google Analytics handles user data can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de

Microsoft Advertising

The website operator uses Microsoft Advertising. Microsoft Advertising is an online advertising programme of Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA.

Microsoft Advertising enables us to display advertisements in the Bing search engine or on third-party websites when the user enters certain search terms in Bing (keyword targeting). Furthermore, targeted advertisements can be displayed based on user data available at Microsoft (e.g. location data and interests) (audience targeting). As the website operator, we can evaluate this data quantitatively by, for example, analysing which search terms led to the display of our advertisements and how many advertisements led to corresponding clicks.

The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/compliance/regulatory/offering-eu-model-clauses

Google Conversion Tracking

This website uses Google Conversion Tracking. The provider is Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

With the help of Google Conversion Tracking, Google and we can recognise whether the user has carried out certain actions. For example, we can evaluate which buttons on our website were clicked how often and which products were particularly frequently viewed or purchased. This information is used to compile conversion statistics. We learn the total number of users who clicked on our advertisements and what actions they carried out. We do not receive any information that can be used to personally identify the user. Google itself uses cookies or comparable recognition technologies for identification.

The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

More information on Google Conversion Tracking can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de

7. Newsletter

Newsletter Data

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter offered on the website, we require an email address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No further data is collected, or only on a voluntary basis. We use newsletter service providers, described below, to handle the newsletter.

CleverReach

This website uses CleverReach for sending newsletters. The provider is CleverReach GmbH & Co. KG, Schafjückenweg 2, 26180 Rastede, Germany (hereinafter "CleverReach"). CleverReach is a service that can be used to organise and analyse the sending of newsletters. The data you enter for the purpose of receiving the newsletter (e.g. email address) is stored on CleverReach's servers in Germany or Ireland.

Our newsletters sent with CleverReach allow us to analyse the behaviour of newsletter recipients. Among other things, it can be analysed how many recipients have opened the newsletter message and how often which link in the newsletter was clicked. With the help of so-called conversion tracking, it can also be analysed whether a predefined action (e.g. purchase of a product on this website) took place after clicking the link in the newsletter. Further information on data analysis by CleverReach newsletters can be found at: https://www.cleverreach.com/de/funktionen/reporting-und-tracking/

Data processing is based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can revoke this consent at any time by unsubscribing from the newsletter. The lawfulness of data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

If you do not want any analysis by CleverReach, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter. We provide a corresponding link in every newsletter message for this purpose.

The data deposited with us for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored by us or the newsletter service provider until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and deleted from the newsletter distribution list after unsubscribing. Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected by this.

After you unsubscribe from the newsletter distribution list, your email address may be stored by us or the newsletter service provider in a blacklist, if this is necessary to prevent future mailings. The data from the blacklist will only be used for this purpose and will not be merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with the legal requirements when sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Storage in the blacklist is not time-limited. You can object to the storage if your interests outweigh our legitimate interest.

Further details can be found in CleverReach's privacy policy at: https://www.cleverreach.com/de/datenschutz/

Data Processing Agreement

8. Plugins and Tools

YouTube with Enhanced Data Protection

This website embeds videos from the YouTube website. The operator of the website is Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

When you visit one of our pages on which YouTube is embedded, a connection to YouTube's servers is established. The YouTube server is thereby informed which of our pages you have visited. If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to directly associate your surfing behaviour with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

We use YouTube in enhanced data protection mode. According to YouTube, videos played in enhanced data protection mode are not used to personalise browsing on YouTube. Advertisements displayed in enhanced data protection mode are likewise not personalised. In enhanced data protection mode, no cookies are set. Instead, so-called local storage elements are stored in the user's browser, which, similar to cookies, contain personal data and can be used for recognition. Details on the enhanced data protection mode can be found here: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171780

After the activation of a YouTube video, further data processing operations may be triggered over which we have no influence.

The use of YouTube is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offerings. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Further information on data protection at YouTube can be found in their privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de

Userlike with Enhanced Data Protection Mode

To process user enquiries via our support channels or via live chat systems, we use Userlike (hereinafter "Userlike"). The provider is Userlike UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Probsteigasse 44 – 46, 50670 Cologne.

Messages you send to us can be stored in the Userlike ticket system or answered in live chat by our staff. When you communicate with us via Userlike, we and Userlike store, among other things, your name and email address, if you have provided these, and your chat histories. This data is summarised in a profile.

Messages directed to us will remain with us until you request us to delete them or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been fully processed). Mandatory statutory provisions — in particular statutory retention periods — remain unaffected.

The use of Userlike is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in processing your enquiries as quickly, reliably, and efficiently as possible. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Further information can be found in Userlike's privacy policy: https://www.userlike.com/de/data-privacy and https://www.userlike.com/de/blog/live-chat-software-datenschutz-dsgvo

Data Processing Agreement

9. Online Marketing and Partner Programmes

Affiliate Programmes on This Website

We participate in affiliate partner programmes. In affiliate partner programmes, advertisements of a company are placed on websites or other media by other companies of the affiliate partner network. If you click on one of these affiliate advertisements, you will be redirected to the advertised offer. If you subsequently carry out a certain transaction (conversion), the affiliate and, if applicable, the owner of the medium on which the advertisement was placed will receive a commission for this. In order to calculate this commission, the affiliate network operator must be able to trace through which advertisement you accessed the respective offer and carried out the predefined transaction. Cookies or comparable recognition technologies (e.g. device fingerprinting) are used for this purpose.

The storage and analysis of the data is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The participants of the affiliate programme have a legitimate interest in the correct calculation of the affiliate commission. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user's device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

We participate in the following affiliate programmes:

Webgains GmbH
Frankenstraße 146
90461 Nuremberg

10. eCommerce and Payment Providers

Processing of Customer and Contract Data

We collect, process, and use personal customer and contract data for the establishment, content design, and modification of our contractual relationships. We collect, process, and use personal data about the use of this website (usage data) only to the extent necessary to enable the user to use the service or to invoice the user. The legal basis for this is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR.

The collected customer data will be deleted after completion of the order or termination of the business relationship and expiry of any statutory retention periods. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Data Transmission upon Contract Conclusion for Online Shops, Retailers, and Dispatch of Goods

If you order goods from us, we pass on your personal data to the transport company entrusted with the delivery and to the payment service provider entrusted with payment processing. Only such data is disclosed as the respective service provider requires to fulfil their task. The legal basis for this is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the fulfilment of a contract or pre-contractual measures. If you have given corresponding consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, we will pass on your email address to the transport company entrusted with delivery so that it can inform you by email about the shipping status of your order; you can revoke this consent at any time.

Credit Checks

If you purchase on account or another payment method where we make advance payment, we may carry out a credit check (scoring). For this purpose, we transmit the data you have entered (e.g. name, address, age, or bank details) to a credit agency. On the basis of this data, the probability of a payment default is determined. In the event of an excessively high risk of payment default, we can refuse the relevant payment method.

The credit check is carried out for the purpose of contract fulfilment (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) and to avoid payment defaults (legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). If consent has been obtained, the credit check is carried out on the basis of this consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); consent can be revoked at any time.

Payment Services

We integrate payment services from third-party companies on our website. When you make a purchase with us, your payment data (e.g. name, payment amount, bank account details, credit card number) is processed by the payment service provider for the purpose of payment processing. The respective contractual and data protection provisions of the respective providers apply to these transactions. The use of payment service providers is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract processing) and in the interest of as smooth, convenient, and secure a payment process as possible (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). To the extent that your consent is requested for certain actions, Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR is the legal basis for data processing; consents can be revoked at any time for the future.

We use the following payment services / payment service providers on this website:

PayPal

The provider of this payment service is PayPal (Europe) S.à.r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg (hereinafter "PayPal").

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/pocpsa-full

Details can be found in PayPal's privacy policy: https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full

PayOne

The provider of this payment service is PAYONE GmbH, Lyoner Straße 9, 60528 Frankfurt am Main (hereinafter "PayOne"). Details can be found in PayOne's privacy policy: https://www.payone.com/DE-de/datenschutz

Mastercard

The provider of this payment service is Mastercard Europe SA, Chaussée de Tervuren 198A, B-1410 Waterloo, Belgium (hereinafter "Mastercard").

Mastercard may transfer data to its parent company in the USA. Data transfer to the USA is based on Mastercard's Binding Corporate Rules. Details can be found here: https://www.mastercard.de/de-de/datenschutz.html and https://www.mastercard.us/content/dam/mccom/global/documents/mastercard-bcrs.pdf

VISA

The provider of this payment service is Visa Europe Services Inc., London Branch, 1 Sheldon Square, London W2 6TT, United Kingdom (hereinafter "VISA").

The United Kingdom is considered a safe third country under data protection law. This means that the United Kingdom has a level of data protection equivalent to that of the European Union.

VISA may transfer data to its parent company in the USA. Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.visa.de/nutzungsbedingungen/visa-globale-datenschutzmitteilung/mitteilung-zu-zustandigkeitsfragen-fur-den-ewr.html

Further information can be found in VISA's privacy policy: https://www.visa.de/nutzungsbedingungen/visa-privacy-center.html

Our Social Media Presences

This privacy policy applies to the following social media presences:

Data Processing by Social Networks

We maintain publicly accessible profiles on social networks. The individual social networks we use can be found below.

Social networks such as Facebook, X, etc. can generally comprehensively analyse your user behaviour when you visit their website or a website with integrated social media content (e.g. like buttons or advertising banners). Visiting our social media presences triggers numerous data protection-relevant processing operations. In detail:

If you are logged into your social media account and visit our social media presence, the operator of the social media portal can assign this visit to your user account. Your personal data may, however, also be collected if you are not logged in or do not have an account with the respective social media portal. In this case, this data collection takes place, for example, via cookies stored on your device or by recording your IP address.

Using the data collected in this way, the operators of the social media portals can create user profiles in which your preferences and interests are stored. In this way, interest-based advertising can be displayed to you inside and outside the respective social media presence. If you have an account with the respective social network, the interest-based advertising can be displayed on all devices on which you are or were logged in.

Please also note that we cannot trace all processing processes on the social media portals. Depending on the provider, further processing operations may therefore be carried out by the operators of the social media portals. For details, please refer to the terms of use and privacy policies of the respective social media portals.

Legal Basis

Our social media presences are intended to ensure the most comprehensive possible presence on the internet. This is a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The analysis processes initiated by the social networks may be based on different legal bases, which are to be stated by the operators of the social networks (e.g. consent within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

Responsible Party and Assertion of Rights

If you visit one of our social media presences (e.g. Facebook), we are jointly responsible with the operator of the social media platform for the data processing operations triggered during this visit. You can in principle assert your rights (access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and complaint) both against us and against the operator of the respective social media portal (e.g. against Facebook).

Please note that, despite joint responsibility with the social media portal operators, we do not have full influence over the data processing operations of the social media portals. Our options are largely determined by the corporate policy of the respective provider.

Retention Period

The data collected directly by us via the social media presence is deleted from our systems as soon as you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies. Stored cookies remain on your device until you delete them. Mandatory statutory provisions — in particular retention periods — remain unaffected.

We have no influence over the retention period of your data stored by the operators of social networks for their own purposes. For details, please inform yourself directly with the operators of the social networks (e.g. in their privacy policy, see below).

Your Rights

You have the right at any time to receive information free of charge about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to object, to data portability, and the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. Furthermore, you can request the rectification, blocking, erasure, and, under certain circumstances, restriction of processing of your personal data.

Social Networks in Detail

Facebook

We have a profile on Facebook. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland (hereinafter Meta). According to Meta, the data collected is also transferred to the USA and other third countries.

We have concluded a joint processing agreement (Controller Addendum) with Meta. This agreement sets out which data processing operations we or Meta are responsible for when you visit our Facebook page. This agreement can be viewed at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum

You can adjust your advertising settings independently in your user account. Click on the following link and log in: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum and https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381

Details can be found in Facebook's privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/

Instagram

We have a profile on Instagram. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum and https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381

Details on how they handle your personal data can be found in Instagram's privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/

We have a profile on Pinterest. The operator is Pinterest Europe Ltd., Palmerston House, 2nd Floor, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Details on how they handle your personal data can be found in Pinterest's privacy policy: https://policy.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy

We have a profile on LinkedIn. The provider is LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Plaza, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. LinkedIn uses advertising cookies.

If you wish to deactivate LinkedIn advertising cookies, please use the following link: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/l/dpa and https://www.linkedin.com/legal/l/eu-sccs

Details on how they handle your personal data can be found in LinkedIn's privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

YouTube

We have a profile on YouTube. The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Details on how they handle your personal data can be found in YouTube's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de

TikTok

We have a profile on TikTok. The provider is TikTok Technology Limited, 10 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, D02 T380, Ireland. Details on how they handle your personal data can be found in TikTok's privacy policy: https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy?lang=de

Data transfer to unsafe third countries is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy?lang=de