Credits

Platform for online dispute regulation by the EU

webgate.ec.europa.eu/odr/

Scope

This data protection statement informs users about the type, scope, and purpose of the collection and use of personal data by the provider responsible. You will find the legal basis for the protection of data privacy in the German Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the German Broadcast Media Act (TMG) .

Access data / Server logfiles

The provider (or its web space provider) collects data about every access to the web content (so-called server log files). The access data includes: name of the website requested, file, date and time of the request, volume of data transferred, message about successful request, browser type with version, operating system of the user, referrer URL (the page previously visited), IP address, and the requesting provider. The provider only uses the log file for statistical evaluations for the purpose of the operation, security, and optimization of the web content. However, the provider reserves the right to check the log files subsequently where concrete indications give rise to the justified suspicion of unlawful use.

Handling of personal data

Personal data is information by which a person can be identified, i.e. data that can be traced back to a person. This includes name, e-mail address, or phone number.  Also, however, data about preferences, hobbies, memberships, or which web pages have been viewed by someone counts as personal data. Personal data is only collected, used, and disclosed by the provider where this is legally allowed or the user consents to the data collection.

Contact

When making contact with the provider (for example using the contact form or e-mail) the user's details are saved for processing the inquiry as well as for the event that follow-up questions may arise.

Newsletter

We use the newsletter to inform you about our news. If you would like to receive the newsletter, we need you to provide a valid e-mail address and information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided or that the owner is in agreement with the receipt of the newsletters. No other data is collected. This information will be used only to send the newsletter and will not be disclosed to third parties. When you register for the newsletter, we store your IP address and the date registration. This information is stored solely as evidence in case a third party abuses an e-mail address and registers for the receipt of the newsletter without the knowledge of the rightful owner. You may withdraw your permission for us to store your data and the e-mail address and to use it to send you the newsletter at any time. You can do this through the link in the newsletter itself, via your profile area or by sending a message using the contact details above .

Integration of third party services and content

It may happen that within this web content, third party content such as YouTube videos, Google Maps map data, RSS feeds, or graphics from other websites is integrated. This always requires that the providers of this content ("third-party providers") are aware of the IP address of the users as, without the IP address, they would not be able to send the content to the respective user's browser. The IP address is thus necessary to display this content We endeavor only to use such content where the respective providers use the IP address to supply the content. However, we have no influence over whether the third-party providers save the IP address e.g. for statistical purposes. Where we are aware of this, we inform the user about it.

Cookies

Cookies are small files that enable specific information relating to the device to be stored on the user's access device (PC, smartphone, or similar). On the one hand, they therefore make websites more user-friendly and this benefits the user (e.g. saving login data). On the other hand, they serve the purpose of collecting the statistical data of website use and being able to analyze it to improve the web content. The users can influence the use of cookies. Most browsers have an option for limiting or completely preventing cookies being saved. However it must be noted that use and, in particular, ease of use without cookies is restricted. You can manage many online advertising cookies from companies via the US American page or the EU page.

Advertising Cookies

Advertising cookies are cookies that are used to help tailor advertising to the user. They remind the user that they have already visited a website. They are often associated with the functionality of the website. We use these cookies to analyze your browsing habits and thus be able to offer relevant advertising that corresponds to your interest.

Customized advertising

If you have activated cookies in your browser, advertisements are presented that relate to our website. Google and third-party providers show our advertisements on several Internet pages. When you activate cookies in your browser, you can see advertisements for this website on other websites. If you wish to unsubscribe from this service, you will be asked to visit the network advertising page where you can unsubscribe.

Data protection policy for the use of Google Analytics and Google Remarketing

This website  uses Google Analytics and Google Remarketing. These are services of Google Inc. ("Google"). Google uses so-called "cookies", text files that are stored on your computer and allow the analysis of your website use. The information generated by the cookie on your use of this website (including your IP address) is transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The last three characters on the IP address are then deleted by Google, so exact allocation of the IP address is no longer possible. Google observes the data protection regulations of the "US Safe Harbor" agreement and is registered in the"Safe Harbor" program of the US Department of Commerce.

Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on the website activities for the website operators, and to perform further services connected with the website use and Internet use. Google may also pass on this information to third parties where prescribed by law or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google.

Third-party providers, including Google, place advertisements on Internet websites. Third-party providers, including Google, use stored cookies to place advertisements on the basis of previous visits of a user to this website.

In no event will Google associate your IP address with other Google data. The data acquisition and storage can be objected to at any time with effect for the future. You can deactivate the use of cookies by Google with the appropriate browser software setting by calling up www.google.de/privacy/ads and clicking the "opt-out" button. Alternatively, you can deactivate the use of cookies by third-party providers by calling up the deactivation page of the network advertising initiative. Further information on Google regulations can be found at www.google.com/intl/de/privacy.

However, we point out that, in this case, you possibly may not be able to make use of the full scope of all the functions of this website. By using this website, you declare your consent to the processing of data collected on you by Google in the manner described above and for the purpose stated above.

Piwik

This website uses Piwik, a web analytics open-source software. Piwik uses "cookies", which are text files placed on your computer to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookies about your use of the website (including your IP address anonymized prior to its storage) will be stored on the server of the service provider in Germany. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

Use of Facebook social plugins

Our website uses social plugins ("Plugins") provided by the social network facebook.com, operated by Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA ("Facebook"). The plugins are identifiable by a Facebook logo (white letter f on blue background or a thumbs up icon) or the notice "Facebook Social Plugin". For a full list of all social plugins, please see here. When you visit a page of our website that contains a social plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to Facebook servers. Facebook directly transfers the plugin content to your browser which embeds the latter into the website, enabling Facebook to receive information about your having accessed the respective page of our website. Thus we have no influence on the data gathered by the plugin and inform you according to our state of knowledge. The embedded plugins provide Facebook with the information that you have accessed the corresponding page of our website. If you are logged into Facebook, your visit can be assigned to your Facebook account. If you interact with the plugins, for example by clicking "Like", or entering a comment, the corresponding information is transmitted from your browser directly to Facebook and stored by it. Even if you are not logged into Facebook, there is the possibility that the plugins transmit your IP address to Facebook. For the information on the purpose and scope of data collection and processing by Facebook, as well as your rights in this respect and setting options for protecting your privacy, please the data protection notice of Facebook. If you are a Facebook member and do not want Facebook to connect the data concerning your visit to our website with your member data already stored by Facebook, please log off Facebook before entering our website.

Data protection policy for the use of Facebook Remarketing

There are remarketing tags of the social network Facebook, 1601 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA, integrated on our pages. When you visit our pages, the remarketing tag establishes a direct connection between your browser and the Facebook server. This means that Facebook receives information that you have used your IP address to visit our pages. This makes it possible for Facebook to assign the visit to our pages to your user account. We can use the information received in this manner for the display of Facebook advertising. We would like to point out that we, as the provider of the pages, do not receive any information on the content of the transmitted data and its use by Facebook. Here you can find additional information on Facebook's data protection policy. If you do not want to have data recorded via Customer Audience, you can click deactivate here.

Use of the Google +1 button

This site uses the +1 button from the Google Plus social networking site operated by Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States ("Google"). The button can be identified by the "+1″ or "g+" symbol on a black or colored background. When a user accesses a web page on this site that features one of these buttons, the browser establishes a direct connection with Google's servers as soon as the Google+ button is pressed. Google then transfers the content of the "g+" button directly to the user's browser, which integrates the content into the web page. The provider has no control over the amount of data that Google collects via the button after the user clicks on it. According to Google, no personal data is collected unless the user actually clicks on the button. Such data (including IP address) is only collected and processed for members who have logged in. If users want to find out what data Google collects about them and why, how it processes and uses their data, and what rights and settings they can assert to protect their privacy, they should refer to Google's data protection policy and the FAQs.

Twitter

This website uses Twitter. These buttons are provided by Twitter Inc., 795 Folsom St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. They can be identified by the use of terms such as "Twitter", "tweet", or "follow" in association with the gray letter "t". These buttons enable users to share an article or page from this site on Twitter, or to follow the provider on Twitter. When a user accesses a web page on this site that features one of these buttons, the browser establishes a direct connection with Twitter's servers as soon as the Twitter button is pressed. Twitter transfers the content of the Twitter buttons directly to the user's browser. The provider has no control over the amount of data that Twitter collects via this plugin after the user clicks on the button, but it attempts to inform the user to the best of its current knowledge. As far as we are aware, only the user's IP address and the URL of the relevant web page are transferred when the user clicks the button, and this information is only used for the purpose of displaying the button. For further information, please refer to Twitter's data protection policy at http://twitter.com/privacy.

Revocation, amendments, corrections, and updates

Users have the right to find out what personal data has been stored and may apply to get this information at no charge. Moreover, they are entitled to the correction of incorrect data and the blocking and deletion of their personal data, insofar as there is no legal obligation to retain such data.