Data protection

Personal data

"Personal data" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as "data subject"); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

Processing

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

Restriction of processing

"Restriction of processing" is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of restricting its future processing.

Profiling

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

Pseudonymisation

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

File system

"File system" means any structured collection of personal data that is accessible according to specific criteria, regardless of whether this collection is organised centrally, decentrally or according to functional or geographical aspects.

Responsible person

"Responsible person" means a 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.

Processor

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

Recipient

"Recipient" means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular enquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients; the processing of those data by those public authorities shall be in compliance with the applicable data protection rules according to the purposes of the processing.

Third party

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

Consent

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

Strictly necessary cookies (type a)

Strictly necessary cookies guarantee functions without which you cannot use our websites as intended. These cookies are used exclusively by us and are therefore first party cookies. This means that all information stored in the cookies is sent back to our website.

Strictly necessary cookies are used, for example, to ensure that you as a registered user always remain logged in when accessing various subpages of our website and therefore do not have to re-enter your login details each time you access a new page.

The use of strictly necessary cookies on our website is possible without your consent. For this reason, strictly necessary cookies cannot be deactivated or activated individually. However, you have the option of generally deactivating cookies in your browser at any time (see below).

Functional and performance cookies (type b)

Functional cookies enable our website to save information you have already entered (such as registered name or language selection) and to offer you improved and more personalised functions based on this. These cookies only collect and store anonymised information so that they cannot track your movements on other websites.

Performance cookies collect information about how our websites are used in order to improve their attractiveness, content and functionality. These cookies help us, for example, to determine whether and which subpages of our website are visited and what content users are particularly interested in. In particular, we record the number of visits to a page, the number of subpages accessed, the time spent on our website, the order of the pages visited, which search terms led you to us, the country, region and, if applicable, the city from which the access is made, as well as the proportion of mobile devices that access our websites. We also record movements, "clicks" and scrolling with the computer mouse in order to understand which areas of our website are of particular interest to users. As a result, we can tailor the content of our website more specifically to the needs of our users and optimise our offering. The IP address of your computer transmitted for technical reasons is automatically anonymised and does not allow us to draw any conclusions about the individual user.

You can object to the use of functional and performance cookies at any time by adjusting your cookie settings accordingly.

Legal basis: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR

Cookies requiring consent (type c)

Cookies that are neither absolutely necessary (type a) nor functional or performance cookies (type b) are only used after you have given your consent.

We also reserve the right to use information that we have obtained by means of cookies from an anonymised analysis of the usage behaviour of visitors to our websites to show you specific advertising for certain of our products on our own websites. We believe that you as a user benefit from this because we display advertising or content that we assume, based on your surfing behaviour, matches your interests and you are therefore shown less random advertising or certain content that may be of less interest to you.

Marketing cookies originate from external advertising companies (third party cookies) and are used to collect information about the websites visited by the user in order to create targeted advertising for the user.

Legal basis: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR

Opt-out for marketing cookies

You can also use cookies used for online advertising via the tools developed in many countries as part of self-regulatory programmes, such as the US-based https://www.aboutads.info/choi... or the EU-based http://www.youronlinechoices.c... .

Legal basis: Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR

Management and deletion of all cookies

In addition, you can set your Internet browser so that the storage of cookies on your end device is generally prevented or you are asked each time whether you agree to the setting of cookies. Once cookies have been set, you can also delete them at any time. You can find out how all this works in detail in the help function of your browser.

We use the following cookies described here for the following purposes: see cookie consent tool.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics 4, a service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google"), which can be used to analyse the use of websites.

When using Google Analytics 4, so-called "cookies" are used as standard. Cookies are databases that are stored on your end device and enable your use of a website to be analysed. The information collected by cookies about your use of the website (including the IP address transmitted by your device, shortened by the last digits, see below) is usually transmitted to a Google server, where it is stored and processed. This may also result in information being transmitted to the servers of Google LLC based in the USA and further processing of the information there.

When using Google Analytics 4, the IP address transmitted by your end device when you use the website is always collected and processed in anonymised form by default and automatically, so that the information collected cannot be directly linked to a person. This automatic anonymisation is achieved by Google truncating the IP address transmitted by your device within member states of the European Union (EU) or in other signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).

Google uses this and other information on our behalf to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on your website activity and usage behaviour and to provide us with other services relating to your use of the website and the Internet. The abbreviated IP address transmitted by your device as part of Google Analytics 4 will not be merged with other Google data. The data collected as part of the use of Google Analytics 4 is stored for 2 months and then deleted.

Google Analytics 4 also enables the creation of statistics with statements about the age, gender and interests of website users based on an evaluation of interest-based advertising and with the use of third-party information via a special function, the so-called "demographic characteristics". This makes it possible to determine and differentiate between user groups of the website for the purpose of target group-optimised marketing measures. However, data collected via the "demographic characteristics" cannot be assigned to a specific person and therefore not to you personally. This data collected via the "demographic characteristics" function is stored for two months and then deleted.

All processing described above, in particular the setting of Google Analytics cookies for the storage and reading of information on the terminal device used by you for the use of the website, will only take place if you have given us your express consent to do so in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. Without your consent, Google Analytics 4 will not be used during your use of the website. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future.

We have concluded a so-called order processing contract with Google for our use of Google Analytics 4, which obliges Google to protect the data of our website users and not to pass it on to third parties.

To ensure compliance with the European level of data protection, including in the event of any transfer of data from the EU or the EEA to the USA and possible further processing there, Google relies on the so-called standard contractual clauses of the European Commission, which we have contractually agreed with Google.

Further legal information on Google Analytics 4, including a copy of the aforementioned standard contractual clauses, can be found at https://policies.google.com/pr... and at https://policies.google.com/te...

Google Maps

We use Google Maps on our website to display our location and to provide directions. This is a service provided by Google LLC, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, hereinafter referred to as "Google".

To protect your rights and personal data, we have integrated Google Maps with a so-called two-click solution / API / iFRame, which only transmits data to Google after you have explicitly activated the map function.

If you call up the Google Maps component integrated into our website, Google stores a cookie on your end device via your Internet browser. Your user settings and data are processed in order to display our location and provide directions. We cannot rule out the possibility that Google uses servers in the USA.

This connection to Google enables Google to determine from which website your enquiry has been sent and to which IP address the directions are to be sent.

In addition, the use of Google Maps and the information obtained via Google Maps is subject to the Google Terms of Use https://policies.google.com/terms?gl=DE&hl=de and the Terms and Conditions for Google Maps https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/help/terms_maps.html.

Google also offers further information at https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated and https://policies.google.com/privacy.

If the standard contractual clauses are not sufficient to establish an adequate level of security, your consent may serve as a legal basis for the transfer to third countries in accordance with Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR.

The legal basis here is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR.

Instagram

We maintain a page on the Instagram platform, which can be accessed via a link on our website. The provider of the platform is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Hanover Reach, 5-7 Hanover Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.

When you visit our Instagram page, Instagram collects, among other things, your IP address and other information that is stored on your PC in the form of cookies. This information is used to provide us, as the operator of the Instagram pages, with statistical information about the use of the Instagram page.

The data collected about you in this context will be processed by Instagram Inc. and may be transferred to countries outside the European Union. What information Instagram receives and how it is used is described in general terms by the provider Meta Platforms in its privacy policy. There you will also find information on how to contact Instagram and on the settings options for adverts. The privacy policy is available at the following link: https://help.instagram.com/519522125107875.

How Instagram uses the data from visits to Instagram pages for its own purposes, to what extent activities on the Instagram page are assigned to individual users, how long Instagram stores this data and whether data from a visit to the Instagram page is passed on to third parties is not conclusively and clearly stated by Instagram and is not known to us.

When you access an Instagram page, the IP address assigned to your end device is transmitted to Instagram. According to Instagram, this IP address is anonymised (for "German" IP addresses) and deleted after 90 days. Instagram also stores information about the end devices of its users (for example, as part of the "login notification" function); Instagram may thus be able to assign IP addresses to individual users.

If you are currently logged in to Instagram as a user, a cookie with your Instagram ID is stored on your device. This enables Instagram to recognise that you have visited this page and how you have used it. This also applies to all other Instagram pages.

As the provider of the information service, we do not collect or process any other 
data from your use of our service.
 

Spotify

Functions of the Spotify music service are integrated on this website for the purpose of interactive, musical design. The provider is Spotify AB, Birger Jarlsgatan 61, 113 56 Stockholm, Sweden.

When activated, Spotify receives the information that you have visited this website with your IP address. If you click on the Spotify button while you are logged into your Spotify account, you can link the content of this website to your Spotify profile. This allows Spotify to associate your visit to this website with your user account.

We would like to point out that when using Spotify, cookies from Google Analytics are used so that your usage data can also be passed on to Google when using Spotify. Google Analytics is a tool used by the Google Group to analyse user behaviour and is based in the USA. We would also like to point out that Spotify also forwards data to Facebook and other companies. The information may also be published on the social network and displayed to your contacts there.

If you do not want the social networks to assign the data collected via our website directly to your profile in the respective service, you can also completely prevent the loading of the widgets with add-ons for your browser, e.g. with the script blocker "NoScript" (https://noscript.net/)."

Further information on this can be found in Spotify's privacy policy: https://www.spotify.com/de/legal/privacy-policy/ .

If you do not want Spotify to be able to associate your visit to this website with your Spotify user account, please log out of your Spotify user account.

The data provided to us by Spotify is stored and analysed on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. You can revoke your consent to this at any time.

Spotify is solely responsible for the general data processing when using the Spotify service. We as the website operator have no influence on this processing.

Withdrawal of consent

If the processing of personal data is based on consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. The withdrawal of consent shall not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

Right to information

If personal data is processed, you can request information about this personal data and the following information at any time:

a) the purposes of the processing;

b) the categories of personal data that are processed;

c) the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organisations;

d) where possible, the envisaged period for which the personal data will be stored, or, if not possible, the criteria used to determine that period;

e) the existence of a right to rectification or erasure of personal data concerning you or to restriction of processing by the controller or a right to object to such processing;

f) the existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority;

g) if the personal data are not collected from the data subject, all available information about the origin of the data;

h) the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, referred to in Article 22(1) and (4) GDPR and, at least in those cases, meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and the envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject.

i) If personal data is transferred to a third country or to an international organisation, you have the right to be informed of the appropriate safeguards pursuant to Article 46 GDPR in connection with the transfer. We will provide you with a copy of the personal data that is the subject of the processing. We may charge a reasonable fee based on administrative costs for any further copies you request as an individual. If you make the request electronically, the information shall be provided in a commonly used electronic format, unless otherwise specified. The right to receive a copy in accordance with Article 20 must not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

Right to rectification and completion

You have the right to obtain from us without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you. Taking into account the purposes of the processing, you have the right to have incomplete personal data completed, including by means of providing a supplementary statement.

Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")

You have the right to obtain from the controller the erasure of personal data concerning you without undue delay and we are obliged to erase personal data without undue delay where one of the following grounds applies:

a) The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.

b) The data subject withdraws consent on which the processing is based according to point (a) of Article 6(1), or point (a) of Article 9(2) GDPR, and where there is no other legal ground for the processing.

c) The data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(2) GDPR.

d) The personal data have been processed unlawfully.

e) The deletion of personal data is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation under Union law or the law of the Member States to which the controller is subject.

If the controller has made the personal data public and is obliged to erase it in accordance with paragraph 1, it shall take appropriate measures, including technical measures, taking into account the available technology and the implementation costs, to inform data controllers who process the personal data that a data subject has requested them to erase all links to this personal data or copies or replications of this personal data.

The right to erasure ("right to be forgotten") does not exist if the processing is necessary:

• to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information;
• for compliance with a legal obligation which requires processing by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject or for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller;
• for reasons of public interest in the area of public health in accordance with Article 9(2)(h) and (i) and Article 9(3) GDPR;
• for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) GDPR in so far as the right referred to in paragraph 1 is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of that processing, or
• for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to demand that we restrict the processing of your personal data if one of the following conditions is met:

a) the accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data;

b) the processing is unlawful and the data subject opposes the erasure of the personal data and requests the restriction of their use instead;

c) the controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of the processing, but they are required by the data subject for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims; or

d) the data subject has objected to processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.

Where processing has been restricted in accordance with the above conditions, such personal data shall, with the exception of storage, only be processed with the data subject's 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 Union or of a Member State.

Right to data portability

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you, which you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and you have the right to transmit those data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data have been provided, where one of the following applies

a) the processing is based on consent pursuant to Article 6(1)(a) or Article 9(2)(a) or on a contract pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, and

b) the processing is carried out by automated means.

When exercising the right to data portability pursuant to para. 1, you have the right to obtain that the personal data be transferred directly from one controller to another controller, insofar as this is technically feasible. The exercise of the right to data portability does not affect the right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"). This right does not apply to processing that is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

Right to objection

You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning you which is based on point (e) or (f) of Article 6(1) GDPR, including profiling based on those provisions. The controller shall no longer process the personal data unless the controller demonstrates compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

Where personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning you for such marketing, which includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If you object to processing for direct marketing purposes, the personal data will no longer be processed for these purposes.

In the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, you may exercise your right to object by automated means using technical specifications.

You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out for scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1), unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.

You can exercise your right to object at any time by contacting the responsible controller.

Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement if the data subject considers that the processing of personal data relating to him or her infringes this Regulation.

https://www.bfdi.bund.de/DE/Service/Anschriften/anschriften_table.html

Right to effective judicial remedy

Without prejudice to any available administrative or extrajudicial remedy, including the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority pursuant to Article 77 GDPR, you have the right to an effective judicial remedy if you consider that your rights under this Regulation have been infringed as a result of the processing of your personal data in non-compliance with this Regulation.