Privacy policy

Introduction

With the following privacy policy, we would like to inform you which types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as "data") we process, for which purposes and to what extent. The privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of providing our services and in particular on our websites, in mobile applications and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as "online services").

The terms used are not gender-specific.

Last updated: 1 June 2026

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Controller
  • Overview of processing operations
  • Relevant legal bases
  • Security measures
  • Transfer of personal data
  • Data processing in third countries
  • Erasure of data
  • Use of cookies
  • Business services
  • Use of online platforms for offering and sales purposes
  • Providers and services used in the course of business
  • Payment procedures
  • Provision of the online services and web hosting
  • Registration, login and user account
  • Contact and enquiry management
  • Communication via messenger services
  • Push notifications
  • Application procedure
  • Cloud services
  • Newsletters and electronic notifications
  • Promotional communication via email, post, fax or telephone
  • Web analytics, monitoring and optimisation
  • Online marketing
  • Customer reviews and rating procedures
  • Presences on social networks (social media)
  • Plugins and embedded functions and content
  • Changes and updates to the privacy policy
  • Rights of data subjects
  • Definitions of terms

Controller

Brands United 360 GmbH
Kanaltorplatz 1, 63450 Hanau

Authorised representatives:

Luca Manes
Marc Christoph Nußbaumer

Email address:

info@sofiamilani.com

Legal notice:

https://www.sofiamilani.com/en/policies/legal-notice

Overview of processing operations

The following overview summarises the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the data subjects.

Types of data processed

  • Master data.
  • Payment data.
  • Contact data.
  • Content data.
  • Contract data.
  • Usage data.
  • Meta and communication data.
  • Applicant data.
  • Images and/or video recordings.
  • Contact information (Facebook).
  • Event data (Facebook).

Categories of data subjects

  • Customers.
  • Employees.
  • Prospective customers.
  • Communication partners.
  • Users.
  • Applicants.
  • Business and contractual partners.

Purposes of processing

  • Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Contact enquiries and communication.
  • Security measures.
  • Direct marketing.
  • Reach measurement.
  • Office and organisational procedures.
  • Remarketing.
  • Conversion tracking.
  • Target group formation.
  • Managing and responding to enquiries.
  • Application procedure.
  • Feedback.
  • Marketing.
  • Profiles with user-related information.
  • Target group formation.
  • Provision of our online services and usability.
  • Information technology infrastructure.

Relevant legal bases

Below you will find an overview of the legal bases of the GDPR on the basis of which we process personal data. Please note that, in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection requirements may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. If more specific legal bases apply in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.


  • Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) – The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
  • Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
  • Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.
  • Application procedure as a pre-contractual or contractual relationship (Art. 9(2)(b) GDPR) – Insofar as special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9(1) GDPR (e.g. health data, such as status as a severely disabled person, or ethnic origin) are requested from applicants in the course of the application procedure so that the controller or the data subject can exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations arising from employment law and social security and social protection law, this data is processed in accordance with Art. 9(2)(b) GDPR; where this is necessary to protect the vital interests of applicants or other persons, in accordance with Art. 9(2)(c) GDPR; or for the purposes of preventive or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, for medical diagnosis, for the provision of health or social care or treatment or for the management of health or social care systems and services, in accordance with Art. 9(2)(h) GDPR. Where special categories of data are communicated on the basis of voluntary consent, they are processed on the basis of Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR.

In addition to the data protection provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. These include in particular the Act on the Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act – BDSG). The BDSG contains in particular special provisions on the right of access, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transfers, as well as automated individual decision-making, including profiling. It also regulates data processing for employment purposes (Section 26 BDSG), in particular with regard to the establishment, performance or termination of employment relationships and the consent of employees. In addition, the data protection laws of the individual German federal states may apply.


Security measures

In accordance with the legal requirements and taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing as well as the risks of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons, we take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk.

These measures include, in particular, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as access to, input, disclosure, securing of availability and separation of the data. Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure that data subjects' rights are exercised, that data is erased and that we respond to threats to the data. We also take the protection of personal data into account as early as the development or selection of hardware, software and procedures, in accordance with the principle of data protection by design and by default.

SSL encryption (https): To protect the data you transmit via our online services, we use SSL encryption. You can recognise such encrypted connections by the prefix https:// in the address bar of your browser.

Transfer of personal data

In the course of our processing of personal data, the data may be transferred to or disclosed to other bodies, companies, legally independent organisational units or persons. Recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are embedded in a website. In such cases, we observe the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude corresponding contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.

Data transfer within the organisation: We may transfer personal data to other units within our organisation or grant them access to this data. Insofar as this disclosure takes place for administrative purposes, it is based on our legitimate business and commercial interests, or it takes place if it is necessary to fulfil our contract-related obligations or if the data subjects have given their consent or there is a legal permission.

Data processing in third countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if the processing takes place in the context of using third-party services or disclosing or transferring data to other persons, bodies or companies, this is only done in accordance with the legal requirements.

Subject to express consent or a transfer required by contract or law, we only process data, or have it processed, in third countries with a recognised level of data protection, on the basis of a contractual obligation through so-called standard data protection clauses of the EU Commission, where certifications exist or on the basis of binding internal data protection rules (Art. 44 to 49 GDPR, information page of the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de).

Erasure of data

The data processed by us will be erased in accordance with the legal requirements as soon as the consents permitting its processing are withdrawn or other permissions cease to apply (e.g. if the purpose of processing this data no longer applies or the data is not required for the purpose).

If the data is not erased because it is required for other, legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted to these purposes. This means that the data will be blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person.

As part of our privacy notices, we may provide users with further information on the erasure and retention of data that applies specifically to the respective processing operations.

Use of cookies

Cookies are small text files or other storage notes that store information on end devices and read information from end devices, e.g. to store the login status in a user account, the contents of a basket in an online shop, the content accessed or the functions used in an online service. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, e.g. for the functionality, security and convenience of online services and for the analysis of visitor flows.

Information on consent: We use cookies in accordance with the statutory provisions. We therefore obtain prior consent from users, unless this is not required by law. In particular, consent is not required if the storage and reading of information, including cookies, is strictly necessary in order to provide users with a telemedia service (i.e. our online services) that they have expressly requested. The consent, which can be withdrawn, is clearly communicated to users and contains information on the respective use of cookies.

Information on legal bases under data protection law: The legal basis under data protection law on which we process users' personal data with the help of cookies depends on whether we ask users for consent. If users consent, the legal basis for processing their data is the consent given. Otherwise, the data processed with the help of cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in the commercial operation of our online services and the improvement of their usability) or, if this takes place in the context of fulfilling our contractual obligations, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfil our contractual obligations. We explain the purposes for which we process cookies in the course of this privacy policy or as part of our consent and processing procedures.

Storage period: With regard to the storage period, a distinction is made between the following types of cookies:

  • Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online service and closed their end device (e.g. browser or mobile application).
  • Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the end device has been closed. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. The user data collected with the help of cookies can also be used for reach measurement. If we do not provide users with explicit information on the type and storage period of cookies (e.g. when obtaining consent), users should assume that cookies are permanent and that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on withdrawal and objection (opt-out): Users can withdraw the consents they have given at any time and can also object to the processing in accordance with the legal requirements of Art. 21 GDPR (further information on objection is provided in this privacy policy). Users can also declare their objection by means of their browser settings.

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Processing of cookie data on the basis of consent: We use a cookie consent management procedure in which users' consent to the use of cookies, or to the processing operations and providers named in the cookie consent management procedure, can be obtained and can be managed and withdrawn by users. The declaration of consent is stored so that the request does not have to be repeated and so that consent can be proven in accordance with the legal obligation. Storage can take place on the server side and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie, or with the help of comparable technologies) in order to be able to assign the consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information on the providers of cookie management services, the following applies: consent can be stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored together with the time of consent, information on the scope of the consent (e.g. which categories of cookies and/or service providers) and the browser, system and end device used.

Business services

We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g. customers and prospective customers (collectively referred to as "contractual partners"), in the context of contractual and comparable legal relationships and related measures and in the context of communication with the contractual partners (or pre-contractually), e.g. to answer enquiries.

We process this data in order to fulfil our contractual obligations. These include, in particular, the obligations to provide the agreed services, any update obligations and remedies in the event of legal guarantee claims and other disruptions in performance. In addition, we process the data to safeguard our rights and for the purposes of the administrative tasks associated with these obligations and of company organisation. Furthermore, we process the data on the basis of our legitimate interests in proper and economically sound business management and in security measures to protect our contractual partners and our business operations from misuse and from threats to their data, secrets, information and rights (e.g. for the involvement of telecommunications, transport and other auxiliary services as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisers, payment service providers or tax authorities). Within the framework of applicable law, we only disclose the data of contractual partners to third parties to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfil legal obligations. Contractual partners are informed about other forms of processing, e.g. for marketing purposes, in this privacy policy.

We inform contractual partners which data is required for the aforementioned purposes before or during data collection, e.g. in online forms, by special marking (e.g. colours) or symbols (e.g. asterisks or similar), or in person.

We erase the data after the expiry of statutory legal guarantee and comparable obligations, i.e. generally after 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g. for as long as it must be retained for legal archiving reasons (e.g. as a rule 10 years for tax purposes). We erase data disclosed to us by the contractual partner in the context of an order in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.

Insofar as we use third-party providers or platforms to provide our services, the terms and conditions and privacy notices of the respective third-party providers or platforms apply in the relationship between the users and the providers.

Customer account

Contractual partners can create an account within our online services (e.g. a customer or user account, "customer account" for short). If the registration of a customer account is required, contractual partners will be informed of this as well as of the information required for registration. Customer accounts are not public and cannot be indexed by search engines. During registration and subsequent logins and use of the customer account, we store the IP addresses of customers together with the access times in order to be able to prove the registration and prevent any misuse of the customer account.

If customers have closed their customer account, the data relating to the customer account will be erased, unless its retention is required for legal reasons. It is the responsibility of customers to back up their data when the customer account is closed.

Saved items/wish list

Customers can create a product list/wish list. In this case, the products are stored as part of the fulfilment of our contractual obligations until the account is deleted, unless the product list entries are removed by the customer or we expressly inform the customer of different storage periods.

Economic analyses and market research

For business reasons and in order to identify market trends and the wishes of contractual partners and users, we analyse the data available to us on business transactions, contracts, enquiries, etc., whereby the group of data subjects may include contractual partners, prospective customers, customers, visitors and users of our online services.

The analyses are carried out for the purposes of business evaluations, marketing and market research (e.g. to determine customer groups with different characteristics). In doing so, we may take into account the profiles of registered users, if available, together with their details, e.g. on the services used. The analyses serve us alone and are not disclosed externally, unless they are anonymous analyses with aggregated, i.e. anonymised, values. Furthermore, we respect the privacy of users and process the data for analysis purposes as pseudonymously as possible and, where feasible, anonymously (e.g. as aggregated data).

Shop and e-commerce

We process the data of our customers in order to enable them to select, purchase or order the chosen products, goods and related services, as well as to pay for them and have them delivered or performed. Where necessary for the execution of an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, freight and delivery companies, to carry out the delivery or execution for our customers. We use the services of banks and payment service providers to process payment transactions. The required information is marked as such during the ordering or comparable purchasing process and includes the information required for delivery or provision and invoicing as well as contact information in order to be able to consult with the customer if necessary.

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Customers; Prospective customers; Business and contractual partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; Security measures; Contact enquiries and communication; Office and organisational procedures; Managing and responding to enquiries; Conversion tracking (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures); Profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles).
  • Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR).

Use of online platforms for offering and sales purposes

We offer our services on online platforms operated by other service providers. In this context, the privacy notices of the respective platforms apply in addition to our privacy notices. This applies in particular with regard to the execution of the payment process and the procedures used on the platforms for reach measurement and interest-based marketing.

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Customers.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Amazon: Online marketplace for e-commerce; Service provider: Amazon Europe Core S.à.r.l., Amazon EU S.à.r.l, Amazon Services Europe S.à.r.l. and Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., all four based at 38, avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg, and Amazon Instant Video Germany GmbH, Domagkstr. 28, 80807 Munich (together "Amazon Europe"), parent company: Amazon.com, Inc., 2021 Seventh Ave, Seattle, Washington 98121, USA; Website: https://www.amazon.de/; Privacy policy: https://www.amazon.de/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201909010.
  • shopify: Platform through which e-commerce services are offered and provided. The services and the processes carried out in connection with them include, in particular, online shops, websites, their offers and content, community elements, purchase and payment processes, customer communication as well as analysis and marketing; Service provider: Shopify International Limited, Victoria Buildings, 2nd floor, 1-2 Haddington Road, Dublin 4, D04 XN32, Ireland; Website: https://www.shopify.de; Privacy policy: https://www.shopify.de/legal/datenschutz.

Providers and services used in the course of business

In the course of our business activities and in compliance with the legal requirements, we use additional services, platforms, interfaces or plugins from third-party providers ("services" for short), which may process users' data. In this context, the privacy notices of the respective services apply in addition to our privacy notices.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, users' data is processed in order to provide our business services or, if it is not required for the performance of the contract, on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services).

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
  • Data subjects: Customers; Prospective customers; Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services); Business and contractual partners; Employees (e.g. staff, applicants, former employees).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; Office and organisational procedures.
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

Payment procedures

In the context of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer data subjects efficient and secure payment options and, in addition to banks and credit institutions, use other service providers for this purpose (collectively "payment service providers").

The data processed by the payment service providers includes master data, such as name and address, bank data, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as contract, amount and recipient-related information. This information is required to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed by the payment service providers and stored with them. This means that we do not receive any account or credit card-related information, but only information confirming or declining the payment. The data may be transmitted by the payment service providers to credit agencies. The purpose of this transmission is to check identity and creditworthiness. In this regard, we refer to the terms and conditions and privacy notices of the payment service providers.

The payment transactions are subject to the terms and conditions and privacy notices of the respective payment service providers, which can be accessed on the respective websites or transaction applications. We also refer to these for further information and for the assertion of rights of withdrawal, access and other data subject rights.

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Customers; Prospective customers.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

Provision of the online services and web hosting

In order to provide our online services securely and efficiently, we use the services of one or more web hosting providers from whose servers (or servers managed by them) the online services can be accessed. For these purposes, we may use infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space and database services as well as security services and technical maintenance services.

The data processed in the context of providing the hosting services may include all information relating to the users of our online services that arises in the course of use and communication. This regularly includes the IP address, which is necessary to be able to deliver the content of online services to browsers, and all entries made within our online services or on websites.

  • Processed data types: Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services); Customers.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online services and usability; Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.).); Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Collection of access data and log files: We ourselves (or our web hosting provider) collect data on every access to the server (so-called server log files). Server log files may include the address and name of the web pages and files accessed, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page) and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. The server log files can be used for security purposes, e.g. to avoid overloading the servers (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and to ensure the utilisation and stability of the servers; Erasure of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymised. Data whose further retention is necessary for evidentiary purposes is excluded from erasure until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
  • United Domains: Services in the field of providing information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacity); Service provider: united-domains AG, Gautinger Straße 10, 82319 Starnberg, Germany; Website: https://www.united-domains.de; Privacy policy: https://www.united-domains.de/unternehmen/datenschutz/; Data processing agreement: https://www.united-domains.de/help/faq-article/wie-erhalte-ich-den-auftragsverarbeitungs-vertrag-avv-nach-dsgvo.
  • shopify: Platform through which e-commerce services are offered and provided. The services and the processes carried out in connection with them include, in particular, online shops, websites, their offers and content, community elements, purchase and payment processes, customer communication as well as analysis and marketing; Service provider: Shopify International Limited, Victoria Buildings, 2nd floor, 1-2 Haddington Road, Dublin 4, D04 XN32, Ireland; Website: https://www.shopify.de; Privacy policy: https://www.shopify.de/legal/datenschutz.

Registration, login and user account

Users can create a user account. During registration, users are informed of the mandatory information required, which is processed for the purpose of providing the user account on the basis of the fulfilment of contractual obligations. The data processed includes, in particular, the login information (user name, password and an email address).

When our registration and login functions and the user account are used, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. The storage is based on our legitimate interests as well as those of users in protection against misuse and other unauthorised use. This data is generally not passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so.

Users may be informed by email about events relevant to their user account, such as technical changes.

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; Security measures; Managing and responding to enquiries.
  • Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Registration with real names: Due to the nature of our community, we ask users to use our services only under their real names. This means that the use of pseudonyms is not permitted.
  • Erasure of data after termination: If users have terminated their user account, their data relating to the user account will be erased, subject to a legal permission, a legal obligation or the consent of the users.
  • No obligation to retain data: It is the responsibility of users to back up their data before the end of the contract if they have terminated it. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all user data stored during the term of the contract.

Contact and enquiry management

When you contact us (e.g. via contact form, email, telephone or social media) and in the context of existing user and business relationships, the information provided by the enquiring persons is processed insofar as this is necessary to respond to the contact enquiries and any requested measures.

Responding to contact enquiries and managing contact and enquiry data in the context of contractual or pre-contractual relationships is carried out to fulfil our contractual obligations or to respond to (pre-)contractual enquiries and otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests in responding to enquiries and maintaining user and business relationships.

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Contact enquiries and communication; Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Contact form: When users contact us via our contact form, email or other means of communication, we process the data communicated to us in this context in order to deal with the matter communicated. For this purpose, we process personal data in the context of pre-contractual and contractual business relationships, insofar as this is necessary for their fulfilment, and otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests and the interests of the communication partners in responding to their concerns and on the basis of our statutory retention obligations.
  • Zendesk: Management of contact enquiries and communication; Service provider: Zendesk, Inc., 989 Market Street #300, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA; Website: https://www.zendesk.de; Privacy policy: https://www.zendesk.de/company/customers-partners/privacy-policy/; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries): Binding corporate rules as the basis for US data transfers: https://www.zendesk.de/company/privacy-and-data-protection/#data-processing-agreement.

Communication via messenger services

We use messenger services for communication purposes and therefore ask you to note the following information on the functionality of the messenger services, on encryption, on the use of the communication metadata and on your options to object.

You can also contact us by alternative means, e.g. by telephone or email. Please use the contact options provided to you or the contact options stated within our online services.

In the case of end-to-end encryption of content (i.e. the content of your message and attachments), we would like to point out that the communication content (i.e. the content of the message and attached images) is encrypted end to end. This means that the content of the messages cannot be viewed, not even by the messenger providers themselves. You should always use an up-to-date version of the messenger services with encryption activated to ensure that the message content is encrypted.

However, we would also like to point out to our communication partners that, although the messenger providers cannot view the content, they can find out that and when communication partners communicate with us, and that technical information on the communication partners' devices and, depending on the settings of their devices, location information (so-called metadata) is processed.

Information on legal bases:  If we ask communication partners for permission before communicating with them via messenger services, the legal basis for our processing of their data is their consent. Otherwise, if we do not ask for consent and they contact us on their own initiative, for example, we use messenger services in relation to our contractual partners and in the context of contract initiation as a contractual measure and, in the case of other prospective customers and communication partners, on the basis of our legitimate interests in fast and efficient communication and in meeting the needs of our communication partners for communication via messenger services. We would also like to point out that we will not transfer the contact details provided to us to the messenger services for the first time without your consent.

Withdrawal, objection and erasure: You can withdraw consent you have given at any time and object to communication with us via messenger services at any time. In the case of communication via messenger services, we delete the messages in accordance with our general deletion policies (i.e., for example, as described above, after the end of contractual relationships, in the context of archiving requirements, etc.) and otherwise as soon as we can assume that we have answered any enquiries from the communication partners, if no reference back to a previous conversation is to be expected and the deletion does not conflict with any statutory retention obligations.

Reservation of referral to other means of communication: Finally, we would like to point out that, for reasons of your security, we reserve the right not to respond to enquiries via messenger services. This is the case if, for example, internal contractual matters require special confidentiality or a response via messenger services does not meet the formal requirements. In such cases, we will refer you to more appropriate means of communication.

  • Processed data types: Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Contact enquiries and communication; Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

Push notifications

With the consent of users, we may send them so-called "push notifications". These are messages that are displayed on users' screens, end devices or in their browsers, even if our online service is not currently being actively used.

To sign up for push notifications, users must confirm their browser's or end device's request to receive push notifications. This consent process is documented and stored. Storage is necessary to recognise whether users have consented to receiving push notifications and to be able to prove their consent. For these purposes, a pseudonymous identifier of the browser (so-called "push token") or the device ID of an end device is stored.

Push notifications may be necessary to fulfil contractual obligations (e.g. technical and organisational information relevant to the use of our online services) and are otherwise sent on the basis of users' consent, unless specifically stated below. Users can change the receipt of push notifications at any time using the notification settings of their respective browsers or end devices.

  • Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Push notifications with promotional content: The push notifications we send may contain promotional information. Promotional push notifications are processed on the basis of users' consent. If the content of the promotional push notifications is specifically described when users consent to receiving them, these descriptions are decisive for the users' consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and about us.
  • Analysis and performance measurement: We evaluate push notifications statistically and can thus recognise whether and when push notifications were displayed and clicked on. This information is used to technically improve our push notifications on the basis of the technical data or the target groups and their retrieval behaviour or retrieval times. This analysis also includes determining whether the push notifications are opened, when they are opened and whether users interact with their content or buttons. For technical reasons, this information can be assigned to the individual push notification recipients. However, it is neither our intention nor, if used, that of the push notification service provider to monitor individual users. Rather, the evaluations serve to recognise the usage habits of our users and to adapt our push notifications to them or to send different push notifications according to the interests of our users. The evaluation of push notifications and performance measurement are carried out on the basis of the users' express consent, which is given together with their consent to receive push notifications. Users can object to the analysis and performance measurement by unsubscribing from the push notifications. Unfortunately, it is not possible to withdraw consent to the analysis and performance measurement separately.

Application procedure

The application procedure requires applicants to provide us with the data necessary for their assessment and selection. The information required is set out in the job description or, in the case of online forms, in the information provided there.

In principle, the required information includes personal details such as name, address and a means of contact, as well as proof of the qualifications required for a position. On request, we will also be happy to tell you which information is required.

If provided, applicants can submit their applications to us using an online form. The data is transmitted to us in encrypted form in accordance with the state of the art. Applicants can also send us their applications by email. However, please note that emails on the internet are generally not sent in encrypted form. As a rule, emails are encrypted in transit, but not on the servers from which they are sent and on which they are received. We therefore cannot accept any responsibility for the transmission path of the application between the sender and its receipt on our server.

For the purposes of searching for applicants, submitting applications and selecting applicants, we may use applicant management or recruitment software and platforms and services of third-party providers in compliance with the legal requirements.

Applicants are welcome to contact us about how to submit their application or to send us their application by post.

Processing of special categories of data: Insofar as special categories of personal data within the meaning of Art. 9(1) GDPR (e.g. health data, such as status as a severely disabled person, or ethnic origin) are requested from applicants in the course of the application procedure so that the controller or the data subject can exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations arising from employment law and social security and social protection law, this data is processed in accordance with Art. 9(2)(b) GDPR; where this is necessary to protect the vital interests of applicants or other persons, in accordance with Art. 9(2)(c) GDPR; or for the purposes of preventive or occupational medicine, for the assessment of the working capacity of the employee, for medical diagnosis, for the provision of health or social care or treatment or for the management of health or social care systems and services, in accordance with Art. 9(2)(h) GDPR. Where special categories of data are communicated on the basis of voluntary consent, they are processed on the basis of Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR.

Erasure of data: In the event of a successful application, the data provided by applicants may be further processed by us for the purposes of the employment relationship. Otherwise, if the application for a job offer is unsuccessful, the applicants' data will be erased. Applicants' data will also be erased if an application is withdrawn, which applicants are entitled to do at any time. Subject to a justified withdrawal by the applicants, the data will be erased at the latest after a period of six months so that we can answer any follow-up questions regarding the application and comply with our obligations to provide evidence under the regulations on the equal treatment of applicants. Invoices for any reimbursement of travel expenses are archived in accordance with tax law requirements.

Inclusion in an applicant pool: Inclusion in an applicant pool, if offered, is based on consent. Applicants are informed that their consent to inclusion in the talent pool is voluntary, has no influence on the current application procedure and that they can withdraw their consent at any time with effect for the future.

  • Processed data types: Applicant data (e.g. personal details, postal and contact addresses, the documents belonging to the application and the information contained therein, such as cover letter, CV, references and other information on their person or qualifications provided by applicants with regard to a specific position or voluntarily).
  • Data subjects: Applicants.
  • Purposes of processing: Application procedure (establishment and possible subsequent performance and possible subsequent termination of the employment relationship).
  • Legal bases: Application procedure as a pre-contractual or contractual relationship (Art. 9(2)(b) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • JOIN: Services in connection with employee acquisition/recruitment (search for employees, communication, application procedures, contract negotiations); Service provider: JOIN Solutions GmbH, Schönhauser Allee 36, 10435 Berlin, Germany; Website: https://join.com/de/; Privacy policy: https://join.com/de/datenschutz/.

Cloud services

We use software services that are accessible via the internet and run on the servers of their providers (so-called "cloud services", also referred to as "software as a service") for the following purposes: document storage and management, calendar management, sending emails, spreadsheets and presentations, exchanging documents, content and information with specific recipients or publishing websites, forms or other content and information, as well as chats and participation in audio and video conferences.

In this context, personal data may be processed and stored on the providers' servers insofar as it forms part of communication processes with us or is otherwise processed by us as set out in this privacy policy. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact data of users, data on transactions, contracts, other processes and their content. The providers of the cloud services also process usage data and metadata, which they use for security purposes and to optimise their services.

If we use the cloud services to provide forms or other documents and content for other users or publicly accessible websites, the providers may store cookies on users' devices for web analytics purposes or to remember users' settings (e.g. in the case of media controls).

Information on legal bases: If we ask for consent to the use of the cloud services, the legal basis for the processing is consent. Furthermore, their use may be part of our (pre-)contractual services, provided that the use of the cloud services has been agreed in this context. Otherwise, users' data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient and secure administrative and collaboration processes)

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); Images and/or video recordings (e.g. photographs or video recordings of a person).
  • Data subjects: Customers; Employees (e.g. staff, applicants, former employees); Prospective customers; Communication partners; Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Office and organisational procedures; Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.).); Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

Newsletters and electronic notifications

We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter "newsletters") with the consent of the recipients or on the basis of a legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described when signing up, these descriptions are decisive for the users' consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and about us.

To sign up for our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to provide your email address. However, we may ask you to provide a name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter, or other information if this is required for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double opt-in procedure: Registration for our newsletter generally takes place using a so-called double opt-in procedure. This means that after signing up, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can sign up with someone else's email address. Newsletter registrations are logged so that the registration process can be proven in accordance with the legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored with the mailing service provider are also logged.

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

The registration procedure is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving that it was carried out properly. If we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure mailing system.

Information on legal bases: The newsletters are sent on the basis of the recipients' consent or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing, if and to the extent that this is permitted by law, e.g. in the case of advertising to existing customers. If we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in efficient and secure sending. The registration procedure is recorded on the basis of our legitimate interests in order to prove that it was carried out in accordance with the law.

Contents:

 

Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners; Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post); Provision of contractual services and customer service; Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Conversion tracking (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures); Profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
  • Opt-out: You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time, i.e. withdraw your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to unsubscribe from the newsletter at the end of each newsletter, or you can use one of the contact options given above, preferably email, for this purpose.

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Measurement of open and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called "web beacon", i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server or, if we use a mailing service provider, from its server when the newsletter is opened. During this retrieval, technical information such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, is initially collected. This information is used to technically improve our newsletter on the basis of the technical data or the target groups and their reading behaviour based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined using the IP address) or access times. This analysis also includes determining whether the newsletters are opened, when they are opened and which links are clicked. This information is assigned to the individual newsletter recipients and stored in their profiles until they are deleted. The evaluations help us to recognise the reading habits of our users and to adapt our content to them or to send different content according to the interests of our users. The measurement of open rates and click rates as well as the storage of the measurement results in the users' profiles and their further processing are based on the users' consent. Unfortunately, it is not possible to withdraw consent to the performance measurement separately; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be terminated or objected to. In this case, the stored profile information will be deleted.
  • Google Analytics: Measuring the success of email campaigns and creating user profiles with a storage period of up to two years; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement:  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de,  settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and of the data processed).
  • Prerequisite for the use of free services: Consent to the sending of mailings may be made a prerequisite for the use of free services (e.g. access to certain content or participation in certain promotions). If users wish to use the free service without subscribing to the newsletter, please contact us.
  • Reminder emails about the ordering process: If users do not complete an ordering process, we may remind them of the ordering process by email and send them a link to continue it. This function can be useful, for example, if the purchase process could not be continued due to a browser crash, an oversight or forgetfulness. The emails are sent on the basis of consent, which users can withdraw at any time.
  • Sending via SMS: The electronic notifications may also be sent as SMS text messages (or are sent exclusively via SMS if the authorisation to send, e.g. consent, only covers sending via SMS).
  • Klaviyo: Email and SMS marketing platform; Service provider: Klaviyo, 225 Franklin St., Boston, Massachusetts 02110, USA; Website: https://www.klaviyo.com/; Privacy policy: https://www.klaviyo.com/privacy.

Promotional communication via email, post, fax or telephone

We process personal data for the purposes of promotional communication, which may take place via various channels, such as email, telephone, post or fax, in accordance with the legal requirements.

Recipients have the right to withdraw consent given at any time or to object to promotional communication at any time.

After withdrawal or objection, we store the data required to prove the previous authorisation to contact or send information for up to three years after the end of the year of withdrawal or objection on the basis of our legitimate interests. The processing of this data is restricted to the purpose of a possible defence against claims. On the basis of our legitimate interest in permanently observing users' withdrawal or objection, we also store the data required to avoid contacting them again (e.g. depending on the communication channel, the email address, telephone number, name).

  • Processed data types: Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Communication partners; Customers.
  • Purposes of processing: Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post); Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • shopify: Platform through which e-commerce services are offered and provided. The services and the processes carried out in connection with them include, in particular, online shops, websites, their offers and content, community elements, purchase and payment processes, customer communication as well as analysis and marketing; Service provider: Shopify International Limited, Victoria Buildings, 2nd floor, 1-2 Haddington Road, Dublin 4, D04 XN32, Ireland; Website: https://www.shopify.de; Privacy policy: https://www.shopify.de/legal/datenschutz.
  • Klaviyo: Email and SMS marketing platform; Service provider: Klaviyo, 225 Franklin St., Boston, Massachusetts 02110, USA; Website: https://www.klaviyo.com/; Privacy policy: https://www.klaviyo.com/privacy.

Web analytics, monitoring and optimisation

Web analytics (also referred to as "reach measurement") is used to evaluate the visitor flows of our online services and may include behaviour, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, recognise at what times our online services or their functions or content are used most frequently or invite repeat use. We can also see which areas need to be optimised.

In addition to web analytics, we may also use testing procedures, e.g. to test and optimise different versions of our online services or their components.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e. data combined for a usage process, may be created for these purposes and information may be stored in and read from a browser or an end device. The information collected includes, in particular, websites visited and elements used there, as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data by us or by the providers of the services we use, location data may also be processed.

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

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, users' data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services); Customers.
  • Purposes of processing: Remarketing; Target group formation (identification of target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content); Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles); Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymisation of the IP address).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Google Analytics: Web analytics, reach measurement and measurement of user flows; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement:  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de,  settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and of the data processed).
  • Google Analytics 4: We use Google Analytics to carry out user analysis on the basis of a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number does not contain any unique data such as names or email addresses. It is used to assign analysis information to an end device in order to recognise which content users have accessed within one or more usage processes, which search terms they have used, whether they have accessed content again or have interacted with our online services. The time and duration of use are also stored, as are the sources of the users that refer to our online services and technical aspects of their end devices and browsers. In the process, pseudonymous user profiles are created with information from the use of different devices, and cookies may be used. Analytics provides data on geographical location at a higher level by collecting the following metadata based on IP lookup: "City" (and the derived latitude and longitude of the city), "Continent", "Country", "Region", "Subcontinent" (and their ID-based equivalents). To ensure the protection of user data in the EU, Google receives and processes all user data via domains and servers within the EU. The user's IP address is not logged and is shortened by the last two digits by default. The IP address is shortened on EU servers for EU users. In addition, all sensitive data collected from users in the EU is deleted before it is collected via EU domains and servers; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de,  settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and of the data processed).
  • Google Universal Analytics: Reach measurement and web analytics – We use Universal Analytics, a version of Google Analytics, to carry out user analysis on the basis of a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number  does not contain any clear data such as names or email addresses. It is used to assign analysis information to a user, e.g. to recognise which content users have accessed during a visit or whether they return to our online services. In the process,  pseudonymous user profiles are created with information from the use of different devices; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Terms and conditions: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement:  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de,  settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and of the data processed).
  • Google Signals (Google Analytics function): Google Signals are session data from websites and apps that Google associates with users who are signed in to their Google accounts and have activated ad personalisation. This assignment of data to these signed-in users is used to enable cross-device reports, cross-device remarketing and cross-device conversion measurement. This includes: cross-platform reports – linking data across devices and activities from different sessions using your user ID or Google Signals data, which enables an understanding of user behaviour at every step of the conversion process, from first contact to conversion and beyond; remarketing with Google Analytics – creating remarketing audiences from Google Analytics data and sharing these audiences with linked advertising accounts; demographics and interests – Google Analytics collects additional information about the demographics and interests of users who are signed in to their Google accounts and have activated ad personalisation; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/7532985?hl=de; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and of the data processed).
  • Target group formation with Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to display the ads placed within the advertising services of Google and its partners only to users who have also shown an interest in our online services or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in certain topics or products determined on the basis of the websites visited) that we transmit to Google (so-called "remarketing audiences" or "Google Analytics audiences"). With the help of remarketing audiences, we also want to ensure that our ads correspond to the potential interest of users; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Legal bases: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/; Further information: Types of processing and of the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Data processing terms for Google advertising products and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms.
  • Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a solution with which we can manage so-called website tags via an interface and thus integrate other services into our online services (please refer to the further information in this privacy policy). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) therefore does not, for example, create any user profiles or store any cookies. Google only learns the IP address of the user, which is necessary to run Google Tag Manager; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries):  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms; Further information: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices (types of processing and of the data processed).
  • shopify: Platform through which e-commerce services are offered and provided. The services and the processes carried out in connection with them include, in particular, online shops, websites, their offers and content, community elements, purchase and payment processes, customer communication as well as analysis and marketing; Service provider: Shopify International Limited, Victoria Buildings, 2nd floor, 1-2 Haddington Road, Dublin 4, D04 XN32, Ireland; Website: https://www.shopify.de; Privacy policy: https://www.shopify.de/legal/datenschutz.

Online marketing

We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include, in particular, the marketing of advertising space or the display of promotional and other content (collectively referred to as "content") based on the potential interests of users and the measurement of its effectiveness.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (so-called "cookie"), or similar procedures are used by means of which the information about the user relevant for the display of the aforementioned content is stored. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited, online networks used, but also communication partners and technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times and functions used. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this data may also be processed.

Users' IP addresses are also stored. However, we use available IP masking procedures (i.e. pseudonymisation by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear data of users (such as email addresses or names) is stored in the context of the online marketing procedure, but pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the online marketing procedures know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

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

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

As a matter of principle, we only receive access to aggregated information about the success of our advertisements. However, within the framework of so-called conversion measurements, we can check which of our online marketing procedures have led to a so-called conversion, i.e., for example, to the conclusion of a contract with us. Conversion measurement is used solely to analyse the success of our marketing measures.

Unless otherwise stated, please assume that the cookies used are stored for a period of two years.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, users' data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Processed data types: Event data (Facebook) ("event data" is data that can be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via the Facebook pixel (via apps or by other means), and relates to persons or their actions; the data includes, for example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; event data is processed for the purpose of creating target groups for content and advertising information (custom audiences); event data does not include the actual content (such as comments written), login information or contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses or telephone numbers). Event data is deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, and the target groups created from it are deleted when our Facebook account is deleted); Contact information (Facebook) ("contact information" is data that (clearly) identifies data subjects, such as names, email addresses and telephone numbers, which can be transmitted to Facebook, e.g. via the Facebook pixel or by upload for matching purposes in order to create custom audiences; after matching for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Remarketing; Conversion tracking (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures); Target group formation; Target group formation (identification of target groups relevant for marketing purposes or other output of content); Marketing; Profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymisation of the IP address).
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
  • Opt-out: We refer to the privacy notices of the respective providers and the options to object (so-called "opt-out") stated for the providers. If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you can deactivate cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict the functions of our online services. We therefore also recommend the following opt-out options, which are offered collectively for the respective regions: a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu.  b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices. c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices. d) Cross-regional: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Amazon: Marketing of advertising materials and advertising space; Service provider: Amazon Europe Core S.à.r.l., Amazon EU S.à.r.l, Amazon Services Europe S.à.r.l. and Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., all four based at 38, avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg, and Amazon Instant Video Germany GmbH, Domagkstr. 28, 80807 Munich (together "Amazon Europe"), parent company: Amazon.com, Inc., 2021 Seventh Ave, Seattle, Washington 98121, USA; Website: https://www.amazon.de; Privacy policy: https://www.amazon.de/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201909010.
  • Facebook pixel and target group formation (custom audiences): With the help of the Facebook pixel (or comparable functions for transmitting event data or contact information via interfaces in apps), Facebook is able to determine the visitors to our online services as a target group for the display of ads (so-called "Facebook ads"). Accordingly, we use the Facebook pixel to display the Facebook ads placed by us only to those users on Facebook and within the services of partners cooperating with Facebook (so-called "Audience Network" https://www.facebook.com/audiencenetwork/ ) who have also shown an interest in our online services or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interest in certain topics or products that can be seen from the websites visited) that we transmit to Facebook (so-called "custom audiences"). With the help of the Facebook pixel, we also want to ensure that our Facebook ads correspond to the potential interest of users and are not perceived as annoying. With the help of the Facebook pixel, we can also track the effectiveness of Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes by seeing whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (so-called "conversion measurement"); Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries): The "Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum) applies in the case of processing by Facebook as a processor, as the basis for the processing of event data of EU citizens in the USA, and its inclusion in the "Facebook Platform Terms" (https://developers.facebook.com/terms) applies with regard to the processing of event data by Facebook under its own responsibility in the context of ad delivery; Further information: The "Data Processing Terms" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing/update) apply with regard to event data that Facebook processes on our behalf in order to provide businesses with reports and analyses;  Furthermore, the "Controller Addendum" applies as an agreement on joint controllership (Art. 26(1), third sentence, GDPR), which is decisive in the case of the processing of event data by Facebook under its own responsibility for the purposes of targeting and improving and securing Facebook products.
  • Advanced matching for the Facebook pixel: In addition to the processing of event data in the context of the use of the Facebook pixel (or comparable functions, e.g. in apps), contact information (data identifying individual persons, such as names, email addresses and telephone numbers) is also collected by Facebook within our online services or transmitted to Facebook. The processing of contact information serves to create target groups (so-called "custom audiences") for the display of content and advertising information based on the presumed interests of users. The collection or transmission and the matching with data available at Facebook do not take place in plain text, but as so-called "hash values", i.e. mathematical representations of the data (this method is used, for example, when storing passwords). After matching for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted. The processing of contact information is based on a data processing agreement with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited ("Data Processing Terms", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing), the "Data Security Terms" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and, with regard to processing in the USA, on standard contractual clauses ("Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum", https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). Further information on the processing of contact information can be found in the "Facebook Business Tools Terms", https://www.facebook.com/legal/technology_terms.
  • Facebook – target group formation via data upload: Formation of target groups for marketing purposes – We transmit contact information (names, email addresses and telephone numbers) in list form to Facebook for the purpose of creating target groups (so-called "custom audiences") for the display of content and advertising information based on the presumed interests of users. The transmission and the matching with data available at Facebook do not take place in plain text, but as so-called "hash values", i.e. mathematical representations of the data (this method is used, for example, when storing passwords). After matching for the purpose of creating target groups, the contact information is deleted. The processing of contact information is based on a data processing agreement with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited ("Data Processing Terms", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing), the "Data Security Terms" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and, with regard to processing in the USA, on standard contractual clauses ("Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum", https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). Further information on the processing of contact information can be found in the "Custom Audiences Terms for customer lists", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/customaudience; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy; Data processing agreement: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring the level of data protection for processing in third countries): https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum.
  • Google Ad Manager: We use the "Google Marketing Platform" (and services such as "Google Ad Manager") to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.). The Google Marketing Platform is characterised by the fact that ads are displayed in real time based on the presumed interests of users. This allows us to display ads for and within our online services in a more targeted manner in order to present users only with ads that potentially match their interests. If, for example, a user is shown ads for products in which they have shown an interest on other online services, this is referred to as "remarketing"; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: Types of processing and of the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Data processing terms for Google advertising products: information on the services, data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms; where Google acts as a processor, data processing terms for Google advertising products and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms.
  • Google Ads and conversion measurement: We use the online marketing procedure "Google Ads" to place ads in the Google advertising network (e.g. in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who have a presumed interest in the ads (so-called "conversion"). We also measure the conversion of the ads. However, we only learn the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to a page with a so-called "conversion tracking tag". We ourselves do not receive any information that can be used to identify users; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: Types of processing and of the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Data processing terms for Google advertising products: information on the services, data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
  • Enhanced conversions for Google Ads: If customers click on our Google ads and then use the advertised service (so-called "conversion"), the data entered by the user, such as the email address, name, home address or telephone number, may be transmitted to Google. The hash values are then matched with users' existing Google accounts in order to better evaluate and improve users' interaction with the ads (e.g. clicks or views) and thus their performance; Website: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9888656.
  • Google Adsense with personalised ads: We use the Google Adsense service with personalised ads, which displays ads within our online services and for whose display or other use we receive remuneration; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://marketingplatform.google.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: Types of processing and of the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Data processing terms for Google advertising products: information on the services, data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.

Customer reviews and rating procedures

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

In order to ensure that the persons submitting ratings have actually used our services, we transmit, with the customers' consent, the data required for this purpose with regard to the customer and the service used to the respective rating platform (including name, email address and order number or item number). This data is used solely to verify the authenticity of the user.

  • Processed data types: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers).
  • Data subjects: Customers; Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); Marketing; Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Rating widget: We integrate so-called "rating widgets" into our online services. A widget is a functional and content element integrated into our online services that displays changeable information. It can be displayed, for example, in the form of a seal or comparable element, sometimes also called a "badge". Although the corresponding content of the widget is displayed within our online services, it is retrieved at that moment from the servers of the respective widget provider. This is the only way to always show the current content, especially the current rating. For this purpose, a data connection must be established from the web page accessed within our online services to the server of the widget provider, and the widget provider receives certain technical data (access data, including IP address) that is necessary so that the content of the widget can be delivered to the user's browser. Furthermore, the widget provider receives information that users have visited our online services. This information may be stored in a cookie and used by the widget provider to recognise which online services participating in the rating procedure have been visited by the user. The information may be stored in a user profile and used for advertising or market research purposes.
  • Google Customer Reviews: Service for obtaining and/or displaying customer satisfaction and customer opinions; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Terms and conditions: https://support.google.com/merchants/topic/7259129?hl=de&ref_topic=7257954; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Further information: In the context of obtaining customer reviews, an identification number and the time of the business transaction to be rated are processed, as well as, in the case of review requests sent directly to customers, the customer's email address and their information on their country of residence, and the review details themselves; Further information on the types of processing and of the data processed: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/adsservices; Data processing terms for Google advertising products: information on the services, data processing terms between controllers and standard contractual clauses for third-country transfers of data: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms.
  • Amazon: Online marketplace for e-commerce; Service provider: Amazon Europe Core S.à.r.l., Amazon EU S.à.r.l, Amazon Services Europe S.à.r.l. and Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., all four based at 38, avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg, and Amazon Instant Video Germany GmbH, Domagkstr. 28, 80807 Munich (together "Amazon Europe"), parent company: Amazon.com, Inc., 2021 Seventh Ave, Seattle, Washington 98121, USA; Website: https://www.amazon.de/; Privacy policy: https://www.amazon.de/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201909010.
  • shopify: Platform through which e-commerce services are offered and provided. The services and the processes carried out in connection with them include, in particular, online shops, websites, their offers and content, community elements, purchase and payment processes, customer communication as well as analysis and marketing; Service provider: Shopify International Limited, Victoria Buildings, 2nd floor, 1-2 Haddington Road, Dublin 4, D04 XN32, Ireland; Website: https://www.shopify.de; Privacy policy: https://www.shopify.de/legal/datenschutz.

Presences on social networks (social media)

We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with the users active there or to offer information about us.

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

Furthermore, user data within social networks is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, usage profiles can be created on the basis of user behaviour and the resulting interests of users. The usage profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are generally stored on the users' computers, in which the usage behaviour and interests of the users are stored. Furthermore, data may also be stored in the usage profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).

For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the options to object (opt-out), we refer to the privacy policies and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

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

  • Processed data types: Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Contact enquiries and communication; Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); Marketing.
  • Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

Plugins and embedded functions and content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online services that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as "third-party providers"). These may be, for example, graphics, videos or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "content").

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the users, as they could not send the content to their browsers without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required for the display of this content or these functions. We endeavour to use only content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as "web beacons") for statistical or marketing purposes. The "pixel tags" can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the users' devices and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, time of visit and other information about the use of our online services, and may also be linked to such information from other sources.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, users' data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economical and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); Meta and communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); Master data (e.g. names, addresses); Contact data (e.g. email addresses, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); Event data (Facebook) ("event data" is data that can be transmitted by us to Facebook, e.g. via the Facebook pixel (via apps or by other means), and relates to persons or their actions; the data includes, for example, information about visits to websites, interactions with content, functions, installations of apps, purchases of products, etc.; event data is processed for the purpose of creating target groups for content and advertising information (custom audiences); event data does not include the actual content (such as comments written), login information or contact information (i.e. no names, email addresses or telephone numbers). Event data is deleted by Facebook after a maximum of two years, and the target groups created from it are deleted when our Facebook account is deleted).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online services and usability.
  • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR); Performance of a contract and pre-contractual requests (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).

Further information on processing operations, procedures and services:

  • Integration of third-party software, scripts or frameworks (e.g. jQuery): We integrate software into our online services that we retrieve from the servers of other providers (e.g. function libraries that we use to display our online services or make them user-friendly). The respective providers collect the IP address of the users and may process it for the purposes of transmitting the software to the user's browser as well as for security purposes and for the evaluation and optimisation of their services. – We integrate software into our online services that we retrieve from the servers of other providers (e.g. function libraries that we use to display our online services or make them user-friendly). The respective providers collect the IP address of the users and may process it for the purposes of transmitting the software to the user's browser as well as for security purposes and for the evaluation and optimisation of their services.
  • Facebook plugins and content: Facebook social plugins and content – This may include, for example, content such as images, videos or texts and buttons with which users can share content from this online service within Facebook. The list and appearance of the Facebook social plugins can be viewed here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/ – We are joint controllers together with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for the collection or receipt as part of a transmission (but not the further processing) of "event data" that Facebook collects by means of the Facebook social plugins (and content embedding functions) executed on our online services or receives as part of a transmission for the following purposes:  a) display of content and advertising information that corresponds to the presumed interests of users; b) delivery of commercial and transactional messages (e.g. addressing users via Facebook Messenger); c) improvement of ad delivery and  personalisation of functions and content (e.g. improving the recognition of which content or advertising information presumably corresponds to the interests of users). We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook ("Controller Addendum", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfil the rights of data subjects (i.e. users can, for example, send requests for information or erasure directly to Facebook). Note: If Facebook provides us with measurements, analyses and reports (which are aggregated, i.e. do not contain information on individual users and are anonymous for us), this processing is not carried out within the framework of joint controllership, but on the basis of a data processing agreement ("Data Processing Terms", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing) , the "Data Security Terms" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and, with regard to processing in the USA, on the basis of standard contractual clauses ("Facebook EU Data Transfer Addendum", https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). The rights of users (in particular to access, erasure, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland; Website: https://www.facebook.com; Privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy.
  • YouTube videos: Video content; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Website: https://www.youtube.com; Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de,  settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Changes and updates to the privacy policy

We ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes in the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require an act of cooperation on your part (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.

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

Rights of data subjects

As data subjects, you have various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Art. 15 to 21 GDPR:

  • Right to object: You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you which is based on Art. 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR, including profiling based on those provisions. Where personal data concerning you is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for such marketing, which includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw consent you have given at any time.
  • Right of access: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether data concerning you is being processed and to access this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
  • Right to rectification: In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the rectification of inaccurate data concerning you.
  • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with the legal requirements, you have the right to request that data concerning you be erased without undue delay or, alternatively, in accordance with the legal requirements, to request restriction of the processing of the data.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements, or to request its transmission to another controller.
  • Complaint to a supervisory authority: In accordance with the legal requirements and without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you also have the right to lodge a complaint  with a data protection supervisory authority, in particular a supervisory authority in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the GDPR.

Definitions of terms

In this section, you will find an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Many of the terms are taken from the law and defined above all in Art. 4 GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding. The terms are listed in the alphabetical order of the German version.

 

  • Conversion tracking: Conversion tracking (also referred to as "visit action evaluation") is a procedure with which the effectiveness of marketing measures can be determined. For this purpose, a cookie is usually stored on the users' devices within the websites on which the marketing measures take place and then retrieved again on the target website. For example, this allows us to track whether the ads we have placed on other websites were successful.
  • Personal data: "Personal data" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter "data subject"); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. cookie) or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
  • Profiles with user-related information: The processing of "profiles with user-related information", or "profiles" for short, includes any kind of automated processing of personal data that consists of using this personal data to analyse, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information concerning demographics, behaviour and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) (e.g. interests in certain content or products, click behaviour on a website or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
  • Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also referred to as web analytics) is used to evaluate the visitor flows of an online service and may include the behaviour or interests of visitors in certain information, such as website content. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can, for example, recognise at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This allows them, for example, to better adapt the content of the website to the needs of their visitors. For the purposes of reach analysis, pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used to recognise returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online service.
  • Remarketing: "Remarketing" or "retargeting" refers to the practice of noting, for example for advertising purposes, which products a user has shown an interest in on a website in order to remind the user of these products on other websites, e.g. in advertisements.
  • Controller: "Controller" means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
  • Processing: "Processing" means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers practically any handling of data, be it collection, evaluation, storage, transmission or erasure.
  • Target group formation: Target group formation (or "custom audiences") refers to the determination of target groups for advertising purposes, e.g. the display of advertisements. For example, based on a user's interest in certain products or topics on the internet, it can be concluded that this user is interested in advertisements for similar products or the online shop in which they viewed the products. The term "lookalike audiences" (or similar target groups) is used when content deemed suitable is displayed to users whose profiles or interests presumably correspond to those of the users for whom the profiles were created. Cookies and web beacons are generally used for the purpose of creating custom audiences and lookalike audiences.