Data protection

Data protection

Introduction

With the following data protection declaration, we would like to inform you about which types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as "data") we process, for what purposes and to what extent. This data protection declaration applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of the provision of 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 offering").

The terms used are not gender specific.

As of: 18 January 2022

Table of contents

  • Introduction
  • Responsible
  • Overview of processing
  • Relevant legal bases
  • Safety measures
  • Transmission of personal data
  • Data processing in third countries
  • Deletion of data
  • Use of cookies
  • Business Services
  • Payment methods
  • Provision of the online offer and web hosting
  • Registration, login and user account
  • Blogs and publication media
  • Newsletters and electronic notifications
  • Prize draws and competitions
  • Web analysis, monitoring and optimization
  • Online marketing
  • Affiliate programs and affiliate links
  • Presences in social networks (social media)
  • Plugins and embedded functions and content
  • Changes and updates to the privacy policy
  • Rights of the data subjects
  • Definitions

Responsible

OH OH OM ethical sportswear

Jennifer Mustermann

Bellealliancestrasse 52

20259 Hamburg

Germany

E-mail address:

ethicalsportswear@ohohom.com

Overview of processing

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

Types of data processed

  • Inventory data.
  • Payment details.
  • Contact details.
  • Content data.
  • Contract data.
  • Usage data.
  • Meta/communication data.

Categories of data subjects

  • Customers.
  • Interested persons.
  • communication partner.
  • users.
  • Contest and competition participants.
  • Business and contractual partners.

Purposes of processing

  • Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Contact requests and communication.
  • Safety measures.
  • direct marketing.
  • Reach measurement.
  • Office and organizational procedures.
  • Affiliate tracking.
  • Managing and responding to inquiries.
  • Conducting prize draws and competitions.
  • Feedback.
  • Marketing.
  • Profiles with user-related information.
  • Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

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 regulations may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. If more specific legal bases are relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the data protection declaration.

  • Consent (Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. a. GDPR) - The data subject has given his or her consent to the processing of personal data concerning him or her for a specific purpose or several specific purposes.
  • Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 lit. b. GDPR) - The processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures taken at the request of the data subject.
  • Legal obligation (Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. c. GDPR) – The processing is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 lit. f. GDPR) - Processing is necessary to safeguard the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, unless the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data prevail.

In addition to the data protection regulations of the General Data Protection Regulation, national regulations on data protection apply in Germany. This includes in particular the law on protection against misuse of personal data in data processing (Federal Data Protection Act - BDSG). The BDSG contains special regulations on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission and automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. It also regulates data processing for the purposes of the employment relationship (Section 26 BDSG), in particular with regard to the establishment, implementation or termination of employment relationships and the consent of employees. In addition, state data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Safety measures

In accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs and the nature, scope, circumstances and purposes of the processing as well as the different probabilities of occurrence and the extent of the threat to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, we take appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

The measures include in particular ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as access to it, input, transfer, ensuring availability and separation. Furthermore, we have set up procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and reactions to data threats. Furthermore, we take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software and processes in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through data protection-friendly default settings.

SSL encryption (https): We use SSL encryption to protect the data you transmit via our website. You can recognize encrypted connections of this type by the prefix https:// in the address line of your browser.

Transmission of personal data

As part of our processing of personal data, it may happen that the data is transmitted to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units or persons or that it is disclosed to them. The recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we observe the legal requirements and in particular conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.

Data processing in third countries

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

Subject to express consent or contractually or legally required transmission, we only process or have the data processed in third countries with a recognized level of data protection, contractual obligation through so-called standard protection clauses of the EU Commission, if certifications or binding internal data protection regulations exist (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 ).

Deletion of data

The data we process will be deleted in accordance with legal requirements as soon as the consents permitted for processing are revoked or other permissions no longer apply (e.g. if the purpose of processing this data no longer applies or it is no longer required for the purpose).

If the data is not deleted 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 to assert, exercise or defend legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person.

Our privacy policy may also contain further information on the storage and deletion of data, which applies primarily 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 the end devices. For example, to store the login status in a user account, the contents of a shopping cart in an e-shop, the content accessed or the functions used in an online service. Cookies can also be used for different purposes, e.g. to ensure the functionality, security and convenience of online services and to create analyses of visitor flows.

Notes on consent: We use cookies in accordance with legal regulations. We therefore obtain prior consent from users, unless this is not required by law. Consent is not necessary in particular if the storage and reading of information, including cookies, is absolutely necessary in order to provide users with a telemedia service that they have expressly requested (i.e. our online offering). The revocable consent is clearly communicated to users and contains information on the respective cookie usage.

Notes on data protection legal bases: The data protection legal basis 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 their declared consent. 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 offering and improving its usability) or, if this is done as part of fulfilling our contractual obligations, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations. We will explain the purposes for which we process cookies in the course of this data protection declaration or as part of our consent and processing processes.

Storage period: With regard to the storage period, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

  • Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offering and closed his or her device (e.g. browser or mobile application).
  • Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the device is 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 using cookies can also be used to measure reach. Unless we provide users with explicit information about 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 revocation and objection (opt-out): Users can revoke the consent they have given at any time and also object to processing in accordance with the legal requirements in Art. 21 GDPR (further information on objection can be found in this data protection declaration). Users can also declare their objection using the settings in their browser.

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Processing of cookie data based on consent: We use a cookie consent management process within the framework of which the consent of users to the use of cookies or the processing and providers mentioned in the cookie consent management process can be obtained and managed and revoked by users. The declaration of consent is stored so that it does not have to be requested again 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 consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information about the providers of cookie management services, the following information applies: The consent can be stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored with the time of consent, information on the scope of the consent (e.g. which categories of cookies and/or service providers) as well as the browser, system and device used.

Business Services

We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g. customers and interested parties (collectively referred to as "contractual partners") within the framework of contractual and comparable legal relationships as well as related measures and within the framework of communication with the contractual partners (or pre-contractually), e.g. to answer inquiries.

We process this data in order to fulfil our contractual obligations. This includes in particular the obligations to provide the agreed services, any updating obligations and remedy in the event of warranty and other service disruptions. In addition, we process the data to protect our rights and for the purposes of the administrative tasks associated with these obligations and the company organization. In addition, we process the data on the basis of our legitimate interests in proper and economical business management and in security measures to protect our contractual partners and our business operations from misuse, endangerment of their data, secrets, information and rights (e.g. the involvement of telecommunications, transport and other auxiliary services as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers or tax authorities). Within the framework of applicable law, we only pass on the data of contractual partners to third parties to the extent that this is necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfil legal obligations. The contractual partners are informed about other forms of processing, e.g. for marketing purposes, in the context of this data protection declaration.

We inform our 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. colors) or symbols (e.g. asterisks or similar), or in person.

We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and similar 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 kept for legal archiving reasons (e.g., for tax purposes, usually 10 years). We delete data that was disclosed to us by the contractual partner as part of an order in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.

To the extent that we use third-party providers or platforms to provide our services, the terms and conditions and data protection notices of the respective third-party providers or platforms apply to the relationship between the users and the providers.

Customer account

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

If customers have terminated their customer account, the data relating to the customer account will be deleted, unless their retention is required for legal reasons. It is the customer's responsibility to back up their data when the customer account is terminated.

Shop and e-commerce

We process our customers' data to enable them to select, purchase or order the selected products, goods and associated services, as well as to pay for and deliver or execute them. If necessary to execute an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, forwarding and shipping 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 in the order or comparable purchase process and includes the information required for delivery, provision and billing, as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultation.

Events and activities

We process the data of participants in the events, activities and similar activities we offer or organize (hereinafter referred to as "participants" and "events") in order to enable them to participate in the events and to use the services or promotions associated with their participation.

If we process health-related data, religious, political or other special categories of data in this context, this is done within the scope of what is obvious (e.g. at thematically oriented events or for health care, security or with the consent of the data subject).

The required information is marked as such in the context of the order, purchase order or similar contract conclusion and includes the information required for the provision of services and billing as well as contact information in order to be able to hold any consultations. To the extent that we receive access to information from end customers, employees or other persons, we process this in accordance with the legal and contractual requirements.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers); contract data (e.g. subject of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: customers; interested parties; business and contractual partners.
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service; security measures; contact requests and communications; office and organizational procedures; administration and response to requests.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter b. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter f. GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter c. GDPR).

Payment methods

Within the framework of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer the 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 inventory data such as name and address, bank details such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums as well as contract, sum and recipient-related information. The information is required to carry out the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed and stored by the payment service providers. This means that we do not receive any account or credit card-related information, only information confirming or rejecting the payment. The payment service providers may transmit the data to credit agencies. This transmission is for the purpose of checking identity and creditworthiness. For this purpose, we refer to the terms and conditions and the data protection information of the payment service providers.

The terms and conditions and data protection notices of the respective payment service providers apply to payment transactions and can be accessed on the respective websites or transaction applications. We also refer to these for further information and to assert revocation, information and other rights of those affected.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contract data (e.g. subject of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers).
  • Affected persons: customers; interested parties.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter b. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter f. GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Provision of the online offer and web hosting

In order to provide our online offering securely and efficiently, we use the services of one or more web hosting providers from whose servers (or servers managed by them) the online offering 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 service may include all information concerning the users of our online service that arises in the context of use and communication. This usually includes the IP address, which is necessary in order to be able to deliver the content of online services to browsers, and all entries made within our online service or on websites.

  • Types of data processed: Content data (e.g. entries in online forms); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness; provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods 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). The server log files can include the address and name of the websites 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 (particularly in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and, on the other hand, to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability; Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data that needs to be retained for evidentiary purposes is exempt from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
  • WordPress.com: hosting platform for blogs/websites; service provider: Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; website: https://wordpress.com ; privacy policy: https://automattic.com/de/privacy/ ; data processing agreement: concluded with provider:https://wordpress.com/support/data-processing-agreements/ .
  • STRATO: Services in the field of the provision of information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g. storage space and/or computing capacity); Service provider: STRATO AG, Pascalstraße 10,10587 Berlin, Germany; Website: https://www.strato.de ; Privacy policy: https://www.strato.de/datenschutz ; Data processing contract: concluded with provider.

Registration, login and user account

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

When you use our registration and login functions and the user account, we save the IP address and the time of the respective user action. The data is saved on the basis of our legitimate interests and those of the users in protection against misuse and other unauthorized 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.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: provision of contractual services and customer service; security measures; administration and response to requests.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter b. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter f. GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Deletion of data after termination: If users have terminated their user account, their data relating to the user account will be deleted, subject to legal permission, obligation or consent of the users.
  • No obligation to retain data: It is the responsibility of the user to back up their data if the contract is terminated before the end of the contract. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all of the user's data stored during the contract term.

Blogs and publication media

We use blogs or similar means of online communication and publication (hereinafter "publication medium"). Readers' data is only processed for the purposes of the publication medium to the extent that it is necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. For the rest, we refer to the information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium in the context of this data protection notice.

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter b. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 Letter f. GDPR).

Newsletters and electronic notifications

We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter "newsletters") with the consent of the recipient or with legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described when registering for the newsletter, they are decisive for the user's consent. In addition, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

To subscribe to our newsletter, it is generally sufficient to provide your email address. However, we may ask you to provide a name for the purpose of addressing you personally in the newsletter or other information if this is necessary for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double opt-in procedure: Registration for our newsletter is always carried out using a so-called double opt-in procedure. This means that after registration you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register using someone else's email address. Registrations for the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored by the shipping service provider are also logged.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We can store the unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before we delete them in order to be able to prove that consent was previously given. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the previous 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 in a block list (so-called "block list") for this purpose alone.

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

Notes on legal bases: The newsletter is sent based on the consent of the recipient 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 delivery. The registration process 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.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
  • Affected persons: communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
  • Opt-out option: You can cancel your subscription to our newsletter at any time, i.e. revoke your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to cancel the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can use one of the contact options listed above, preferably email.

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Measuring opening and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called "web beacon", i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server when the newsletter is opened or, if we use a shipping service provider, from its server. As part of this retrieval, technical information is initially collected, such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval. This information is used to technically improve our newsletter based on the technical data or the target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined using the IP address) or the access times. This analysis also includes determining whether the newsletters are opened and when they are opened.

Prize draws and competitions

We only process personal data of participants in prize draws and competitions in compliance with the relevant data protection regulations, insofar as the processing is contractually necessary for the provision, implementation and processing of the prize draw, the participants have consented to the processing or the processing serves our legitimate interests (e.g. in the security of the prize draw or the protection of our interests against misuse through possible collection of IP addresses when submitting prize draw entries).

If entries from participants are published as part of the competition (e.g. as part of a vote or presentation of the competition entries or the winners or reporting on the competition), we would like to point out that the names of the participants may also be published in this context. Participants can object to this at any time.

If the competition takes place within an online platform or a social network (e.g. Facebook or Instagram, hereinafter referred to as "online platform"), the terms of use and data protection provisions of the respective platforms also apply. In these cases, we would like to point out that we are responsible for the information provided by participants as part of the competition and that inquiries regarding the competition should be directed to us.

Participants' data will be deleted as soon as the prize draw or competition has ended and the data is no longer required to inform the winners or because queries about the prize draw are expected. Participants' data will generally be deleted no later than 6 months after the end of the prize draw. Winners' data may be retained for longer, for example to answer queries about the prizes or to fulfill the prize-winning services; in this case, the retention period depends on the type of prize and is up to three years for items or services, for example in order to process warranty claims. Participants' data may also be stored for longer, for example in the form of reports on the prize draw in online and offline media.

If data was collected for other purposes as part of the competition, its processing and the retention period are governed by the data protection information for this use (e.g. in the case of registration for the newsletter as part of a competition).

  • Types of data processed: inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Persons affected: participants in prize draws and competitions.
  • Purpose of processing: Conducting prize draws and competitions.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 lit. b. GDPR).

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

Web analysis (also known as "reach measurement") is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to our online offering and can include behavior, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, identify at what time our online offering or its functions or content are most frequently used or invite reuse. We can also understand which areas require optimization.

In addition to web analysis, we can also use testing procedures to test and optimize, for example, different versions of our online offering or its components.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e. data summarized for a usage process, can be created for these purposes and information can be stored in a browser or in a device and read from it. 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 us or the providers of the services we use collecting their location data, location data can also be processed.

The IP addresses of the users are also stored. However, we use an IP masking process (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, no clear user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored as part of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, but rather pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor the providers of the software used know the actual identity of the users, only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective processes.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use 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 data protection declaration.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Online marketing

We process personal data for the purposes of online marketing, which may include in particular the marketing of advertising space or the presentation of advertising and other content (collectively referred to as "content") based on the potential interests of users and the measurement of their 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 to the presentation 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 as well as information on usage times and functions used. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this can also be processed.

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

The information in the profiles is usually stored in cookies or using similar processes. These cookies can generally also be read later on other websites that use the same online marketing process and analyzed for the purposes of displaying content, as well as supplemented with further data and stored on the server of the online marketing process provider.

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

In principle, we only receive access to summarized information about the success of our advertisements. However, as part of so-called conversion measurements, we can check which of our online marketing processes have led to a so-called conversion, ie, for example, to the conclusion of a contract with us. The conversion measurement is used solely to analyze the success of our marketing measures.

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

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use 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 data protection declaration.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Marketing; Profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Security measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).
  • Opt-out option: We refer to the data protection information of the respective providers and the opt-out options specified for the providers (so-called "opt-out"). If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, you have the option of deactivating cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict functions of our online offering. We therefore also recommend the following opt-out options, which are offered in summary for each region: 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 .

Affiliate programs and affiliate links

In our online offering, we include so-called affiliate links or other references (which may include search masks, widgets or discount codes, for example) to the offers and services of third-party providers (collectively referred to as "affiliate links"). If users follow the affiliate links or subsequently take advantage of the offers, we may receive a commission or other benefits from these third-party providers (collectively referred to as "commission").

In order to be able to track whether users have taken advantage of the offers of an affiliate link used by us, it is necessary for the respective third-party providers to know that users have followed an affiliate link used within our online offering. The assignment of the affiliate links to the respective business transactions or other actions (e.g. purchases) serves solely the purpose of commission accounting and is canceled as soon as it is no longer required for this purpose.

For the purposes of the aforementioned assignment of affiliate links, the affiliate links can be supplemented with certain values ​​that are part of the link or can be stored elsewhere, e.g. in a cookie. The values ​​can include in particular the source website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identifier of the respective offer, the type of link used, the type of offer and an online identifier of the user.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Furthermore, their use can be a component of our (pre)contractual services, provided that the use of third-party providers was agreed within this framework. 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 data protection declaration.

  • Types of data processed: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Affiliate tracking.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. b. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).

Presences in 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 it could, for example, make it more difficult to enforce user rights.

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

For a detailed description of the respective processing methods and the options for objection (opt-out), please refer to the data protection declarations 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 like to point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to the user data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, you can contact us.

  • Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. email, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms); usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: contact requests and communication; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); marketing.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Instagram: social network; service provider: Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; website: https://www.instagram.com ; privacy policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy .
  • Facebook Pages: Profiles within the social network Facebook - We are jointly responsible with Facebook Ireland Ltd. for collecting (but not further processing) data from visitors to our Facebook page (so-called "fan page"). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see "Things you and others do and provide" in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy ), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see "Device information" in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy ). As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under "How do we use this information?", Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, so-called "Page Insights", to page operators so that they can gain insights into how people interact with their pages and the content associated with them. We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook ("Information on Page Insights", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum ), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of those affected (ie users can, for example, send information or deletion requests directly to Facebook). The rights of users (in particular the right to information, deletion, objection and complaint to the responsible supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the "Information on Page Insights" ( https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data ); 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 data protection levels when processing in third countries): https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum ; Further information: Agreement on joint responsibility: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data .
  • YouTube: social network and video platform; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy ; option to object (opt-out): https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated .

Plugins and embedded functions and content

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

The integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the users, since without the IP address they would not be able to send the content to their browser. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or functions. We endeavor to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers can 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 can also be stored in cookies on the user's device and contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, the time of visit and other information about the use of our online offer, as well as be linked to such information from other sources.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use 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 data protection declaration.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times); meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses); inventory data (e.g. names, addresses); contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers); content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
  • Affected persons: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offer and user-friendliness; provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a. GDPR); Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. b. GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f. GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Google Fonts: We integrate the fonts ("Google Fonts") of the provider Google, whereby the user data is used solely for the purpose of displaying the fonts in the user's browser. The integration is based on our legitimate interests in a technically secure, maintenance-free and efficient use of fonts, their uniform display and taking into account possible licensing restrictions for their integration; 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://fonts.google.com/ ; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy .
  • Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the “Google Maps” service provided by Google. The data processed may include, in particular, IP addresses and location data of users, which are not collected without their consent (usually as part of the settings on their mobile 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://cloud.google.com/maps-platform ; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy ; option to object (opt-out): opt-out plug-in: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de , settings for the display of advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated .
  • 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 ; possibility of objection (opt-out): opt-out plug-in: 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 regularly inform yourself about the content of our data protection declaration. We will adapt the data protection declaration as soon as changes to the data processing we carry out make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your cooperation (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.

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

Rights of the data subjects

As a data subject, you are entitled to various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Articles 15 to 21 of the GDPR:

  • Right to object: You have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR, for reasons related to your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If the personal data concerning you are processed in order to conduct direct advertising, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purposes of such advertising; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct advertising.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.
  • Right to information: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether or not data concerning you is being processed and to request information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with legal requirements.
  • Right to rectification: You have the right, in accordance with the statutory provisions, to request that the data concerning you be completed or that inaccurate data concerning you be rectified.
  • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: You have the right, in accordance with the statutory provisions, to demand that data concerning you be erased immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the statutory provisions.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive the data concerning you that you have made available to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request that it be transmitted to another controller.
  • Complaint to a supervisory authority: Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the provisions of the GDPR.

Definitions

This section provides you with an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Many of the terms are taken from the law and are defined primarily in Art. 4 GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations, however, are intended primarily to aid understanding. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

  • Affiliate tracking: As part of affiliate tracking, links are logged that the linked websites use to refer users to websites with product or other offers. The operators of the linked websites can receive a commission if users follow these so-called affiliate links and then take advantage of the offers (e.g. buy goods or use services). To do this, it is necessary for the providers to be able to track whether users who are interested in certain offers then take advantage of them at the instigation of the affiliate links. Therefore, in order for affiliate links to function, they must be supplemented with certain values ​​that become part of the link or are stored elsewhere, e.g. in a cookie. The values ​​include in particular the source website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identifier of the respective offer, an online identifier of the user as well as tracking-specific values, such as advertising material ID, partner ID and categorizations.
  • 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 special characteristics that express 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 type of automated processing of personal data that consists in using this personal data to analyze, evaluate or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, this may include different information relating to demographics, behavior and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) (e.g. interests in certain content or products, click behavior on a website or location). Cookies and web beacons are often used for profiling purposes.
  • Reach measurement: Reach measurement (also known as web analytics) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to an online offering and can include the behavior or interests of visitors in certain information, such as the content of websites. With the help of reach analysis, website owners can, for example, recognize at what time visitors visit their website and what content they are interested in. This enables 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 recognize returning visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offering.
  • Controller: The “controller” is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data.
  • Processing: "Processing" is any operation or set of operations which is carried out with or without the aid of automated procedures in connection with personal data. The term is broad and covers practically every handling of data, be it the collection, evaluation, storage, transmission or deletion.