Privacy Policy

The data controller within the meaning of data protection legislation is:

COMPANY, ADDRESS

Collection of general information

When you access our website, information of a general nature is collected automatically. This information (server log files) includes, for example, the type of web browser, the operating system used, the domain name of your internet service provider and similar details. This consists exclusively of information that does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about your identity. This information is technically necessary to correctly deliver the website content you have requested and is inevitably generated when using the internet. We analyse anonymous information of this kind statistically in order to optimise our website and the technology behind it.

Cookies

Like many other websites, we also use so-called ‘cookies’. Cookies are small text files that are transferred from a website server to your hard drive. This enables us to automatically receive certain data, such as your IP address, the browser you are using, your operating system, and details of your connection to the internet.

Cookies cannot be used to run programmes or to transfer viruses to a computer. The information contained in cookies enables us to make navigation easier for you and to ensure that our web pages are displayed correctly.

Under no circumstances will the data we collect be passed on to third parties or linked to personal data without your consent.

Of course, you can generally view our website without cookies. Web browsers are usually set to accept cookies. You can disable the use of cookies at any time via your browser settings. Please use your web browser’s help functions to find out how to change these settings. Please note that certain features of our website may not work if you have disabled cookies.

SSL encryption

To protect the security of your data during transmission, we use state-of-the-art encryption methods (e.g. SSL) via HTTPS.

Comment function

When users leave comments on the blog or create their own content, the time at which the comment or content was created and the username previously chosen by the website visitor are stored alongside this information. This is for our own protection, as we may be held liable for unlawful content on our website, even if it was created by users.

When you sign up to receive our newsletter, the data you provide will be used exclusively for this purpose. Subscribers may also be informed by email about matters relevant to the service or registration (for example, changes to the newsletter content or technical issues).

A valid email address is required for registration to be valid. To verify that registration is actually carried out by the owner of an email address, we use the ‘double opt-in’ procedure. To this end, we log the newsletter subscription request, the sending of a confirmation email and the receipt of the reply requested therein. No further data is collected. The data is used exclusively for sending the newsletter and is not passed on to third parties.

You may withdraw your consent to the storage of your personal data and its use for sending the newsletter at any time. A link for this purpose is included in every newsletter. You may also unsubscribe directly on this website at any time or inform us of your wish to do so via the contact details provided at the end of this privacy notice.

Contact form

If you contact us by email or via the contact form, the information you provide will be stored for the purpose of processing your enquiry and for any follow-up questions.

Deletion or blocking of data

We adhere to the principles of data avoidance and data minimisation. We therefore only store your personal data for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes set out here or as required by the various retention periods stipulated by law. Once the relevant purpose no longer applies or these retention periods have expired, the corresponding data will be blocked or deleted as a matter of routine and in accordance with statutory provisions.

Use of Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (hereinafter: Google). Google Analytics uses so-called ‘cookies’, which are text files stored on your computer and which enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie regarding your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, as IP anonymisation has been enabled on this website, your IP address will be truncated by Google beforehand within Member States of the European Union or in other signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to analyse your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide the website operator with other services relating to website and internet usage. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other data held by Google.

You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting your browser settings accordingly; however, we would like to point out that, in this case, you may not be able to make full use of all the functions of this website. You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) by Google, as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available via the following link: Browser add-on to disable Google Analytics.

In addition to, or as an alternative to, the browser add-on, you can prevent tracking by Google Analytics on our pages by clicking this link. This will install an opt-out cookie on your device. This will prevent Google Analytics from collecting data for this website and for this browser in future, for as long as the cookie remains installed in your browser.

Use of Google Maps

This website uses the Google Maps API to display geographical information visually. When using Google Maps, Google also collects, processes and uses data regarding visitors’ use of the map functions. Further information on data processing by Google can be found in Google’s Privacy Policy. There, you can also change your personal privacy settings in the Privacy Centre.

Detailed instructions on managing your own data in connection with Google products can be found here.

Embedded YouTube videos

We embed YouTube videos on some of our web pages. The operator of the relevant plug-ins is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. When you visit a page featuring the YouTube plug-in, a connection is established with YouTube’s servers. This informs YouTube which pages you are visiting. If you are logged into your YouTube account, YouTube can associate your browsing behaviour with you personally. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account beforehand.

When a YouTube video is played, the provider uses cookies to collect information about user behaviour.

Anyone who has disabled the storage of cookies for the Google Ads programme will not have such cookies stored, even when watching YouTube videos. However, YouTube also stores non-personal usage information in other cookies. If you wish to prevent this, you must block the storage of cookies in your browser.

Further information on data protection at ‘YouTube’ can be found in the provider’s privacy policy at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/

Social plugins

On our website, we offer you the option to use so-called ‘social media buttons’. To protect your data, we use the “Shariff” solution for implementation. This means that these buttons are integrated into the website solely as graphics containing a link to the relevant website of the button provider. Clicking on the graphic will therefore redirect you to the services of the respective provider. Only then will your data be sent to the respective providers. If you do not click on the image, no data is exchanged between you and the providers of the social media buttons. Information on the collection and use of your data on social networks can be found in the respective terms and conditions of the relevant providers. You can find more information about the Shariff solution here: http://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Shariff-Social-Media-Buttons-mit-Datenschutz-2467514.html

We have integrated the social media buttons of the following companies onto our website:

Facebook Inc. (1601 S. California Ave – Palo Alto – CA 94304 – USA)
Twitter Inc. (795 Folsom St. – Suite 600 – San Francisco – CA 94107 – USA)
Google Plus/Google Inc. (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway – Mountain View – CA 94043 – USA)
WhatsApp
Pinterest
XING AG (Gänsemarkt 43 – 20354 Hamburg – Germany)
LinkedIn Corporation (2029 Stierlin Court – Mountain View – CA 94043 – USA)

Your rights to access, rectification, restriction, erasure and objection

You have the right to obtain information at any time regarding your personal data stored by us. You also have the right to have your personal data rectified, restricted or, apart from the statutory retention of data for business purposes, erased. Please contact our Data Protection Officer for this. You will find the contact details at the very bottom of this page.

To ensure that a request to block data can be honoured at any time, this data must be retained in a block file for verification purposes. You may also request the erasure of the data, provided there is no legal obligation to retain it. Where such an obligation exists, we will block your data upon request.

You may make changes to or withdraw your consent by notifying us accordingly, with effect for the future.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to amend this privacy policy from time to time to ensure it always complies with current legal requirements or to reflect changes to our services in the privacy policy, for example, when introducing new services. The new privacy policy will then apply to your next visit.