Privacy

General Privacy Policy

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with applicable data protection laws and this privacy policy.

As a rule, you can use our website without providing any personal data. To the extent that personal data (such as your name, address, or email address) is collected on our website, this is always done on a voluntary basis whenever possible. This data will not be disclosed to third parties without your express consent.

Please note that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., when communicating via email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. It is not possible to completely protect data from access by third parties.

Cookies

Some of the web pages on this site use so-called cookies. Cookies do not harm your computer and do not contain viruses. Cookies help make our website more user-friendly, effective, and secure. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and saved by your browser.

Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies.” They are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them. These cookies allow us to recognize your browser the next time you visit.

You can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are set and to allow cookies only on a case-by-case basis, to block the acceptance of cookies in specific cases or generally, and to enable the automatic deletion of cookies when you close your browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

Server Log Files

The provider of this website automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. This information includes:

Browser type and version

Operating system used

Referrer URL

Hostname of the accessing computer

Time of the server request

This data cannot be attributed to specific individuals. This data is not combined with other data sources. We reserve the right to review this data at a later time if we become aware of specific indications of unlawful use.

Contact Form

If you submit inquiries to us via the contact form, we will store the information you provide in the form—including the contact information you enter there—for the purpose of processing your inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We will not share this data without your consent.

Newsletter Information

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter offered on this website, we need your email address as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided and that you consent to receiving the newsletter. No other data is collected. We use this data exclusively to send you the requested information and do not share it with third parties.

You may revoke your consent to the storage of your data and email address, as well as their use for sending the newsletter, at any time—for example, by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link in the newsletter.

Google Analytics

This website uses features of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Google Analytics uses so-called “cookies.” These are text files that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie regarding your use of this website is generally transmitted to a Google server in the United States and stored there.

IP Anonymization

We have enabled the IP anonymization feature on this website. As a result, Google will truncate your IP address within member states of the European Union or in other signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmitting it to the United States. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the United States and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services related to website and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other data held by Google.

Browser Plug-In

You can prevent cookies from being stored by adjusting your browser settings accordingly; however, please note that in this case, you may not be able to use all features of this website to their full extent. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address), as well as from processing this data, by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de

Objection to Data Collection

You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data by clicking the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set to prevent the collection of your data during future visits to this website: Disable Google Analytics

For more information on how Google Analytics handles user data, please refer to Google’s Privacy Policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Data Processing on Behalf of a Client

We have entered into a data processing agreement with Google and fully comply with the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities regarding the use of Google Analytics.

Demographic Characteristics

This website uses the “demographic characteristics” feature of Google Analytics. This allows for the creation of reports that provide insights into the age, gender, and interests of site visitors. This data is derived from Google’s interest-based advertising as well as from visitor data provided by third parties. This data cannot be associated with any specific individual. You can disable this feature at any time via the ad settings in your Google Account or generally prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data as described in the section “Objecting to Data Collection.”

Note for Your Website Administrator Regarding Google Analytics

In browsers on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets), add-ons designed to block Google Analytics user tracking do not always work. Users must have the option to disable the tracking of their behavior by Google Analytics. To this end, an additional JavaScript link is included in your privacy policy at the end of the section titled “Privacy Policy for the Use of Google Analytics – Objection to Data Collection.” When the user clicks on this link, a cookie is created that disables user tracking in the user’s browser for the Google Analytics account linked to your website.

To ensure this link works, the following HTML source code with JavaScript can be placed BEFORE your Google Analytics tracking code. You should also replace the string “UA-XXXXXXX-X” with your Google Analytics tracking ID.

Recommended if you have integrated a contact form into your website that collects user-specific data (e.g., name, email, address).

The legal situation regarding Google Analytics remains unclear in many respects. Proper implementation depends in many ways on the decisions you make as the website operator. We therefore cannot assume any liability for the correct use of Google Analytics.

Facebook Plug-ins (Like Button)

Our website incorporates plug-ins from the social network Facebook, provided by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. You can recognize the Facebook plug-ins by the Facebook logo or the “Like” button on our site. You can find an overview of the Facebook plug-ins here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/

When you visit our pages, the plugin establishes a direct connection between your browser and the Facebook server. As a result, Facebook receives the information that you have visited our site using your IP address. If you click the Facebook “Like” button while logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of our pages to your Facebook profile. This allows Facebook to associate your visit to our pages with your user account. Please note that, as the provider of these pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how it is used by Facebook. For more information, please see Facebook’s Privacy Policy at https://de-de.facebook.com/policy.php

If you do not want Facebook to be able to associate your visit to our site with your Facebook account, please log out of your Facebook account.

No liability is assumed for the use of this privacy policy, as there are currently no court rulings regarding the “Facebook button,” Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, Xing, LinkedIn, etc., and it remains unclear whether informing users is sufficient for their use or whether explicit consent is required.

Twitter

Our website incorporates features from the Twitter service. These features are provided by Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. When you use Twitter and the “Retweet” feature, the websites you visit are linked to your Twitter account and made known to other users. Data is also transmitted to Twitter in the process. Please note that, as the provider of these pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or how Twitter uses it. For more information, please see Twitter’s Privacy Policy at https://twitter.com/privacy.

You can change your privacy settings in your account settings: https://twitter.com/account/settings

Google+

Our pages use Google+ features. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Collection and Sharing of Information: You can use the Google+ button to share information worldwide. Through the Google+ button, you and other users receive personalized content from Google and our partners. Google stores both the fact that you clicked the +1 button for a piece of content and information about the page you were viewing when you clicked +1. Your +1s may appear as recommendations alongside your profile name and photo in Google services—such as in search results or on your Google Profile—or in other places on websites and in ads across the web.

Google collects information about your +1 activity to improve Google services for you and others. To use the Google+ button, you need a public Google profile that is visible worldwide and must include at least the name you selected for the profile. This name is used across all Google services. In some cases, this name may also replace another name you used when sharing content through your Google Account. The identity associated with your Google profile may be visible to users who know your email address or have other identifying information about you.

Use of the Collected Information: In addition to the purposes described above, the information you provide is used in accordance with Google’s applicable privacy policies. Google may publish aggregated statistics about users’ +1 activity or share them with users and partners, such as publishers, advertisers, or affiliated websites.

Instagram

Our website incorporates features from the Instagram service. These features are provided by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content on our pages to your Instagram profile by clicking the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate your visit to our pages with your user account. Please note that, as the provider of these pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how it is used by Instagram.

For more information, please see Instagram’s Privacy Policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/

LinkedIn

Our website uses features from the LinkedIn network. The provider is LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Every time you access one of our pages that contains LinkedIn features, a connection is established with LinkedIn’s servers. LinkedIn is notified that you have visited our website using your IP address. If you click the LinkedIn “Recommend” button while logged into your LinkedIn account, LinkedIn can associate your visit to our website with you and your user account. Please note that, as the provider of this website, we have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how it is used by LinkedIn.

For more information, please see LinkedIn’s Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

XING

Our website uses features provided by the XING network. The provider is XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany. Each time you visit one of our pages that contains XING features, a connection is established to XING’s servers. To the best of our knowledge, no personal data is stored during this process. In particular, IP addresses are not stored, nor is user behavior analyzed.

For more information on data protection and the XING Share button, please see the privacy policy: https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection

Comment feature on this website

In addition to your comment, the comment feature on this page also stores information about the time the comment was posted and, if you are not posting anonymously, the username you selected.

Storage of IP Addresses

Our comment feature stores the IP addresses of users who post comments. Since we do not review comments on our site before they are published, we need this data to be able to take action against the author in the event of legal violations such as insults or propaganda.

Subscribe to Comments

As a user of this site, you can subscribe to comments after logging in. You will receive a confirmation email to verify that you are the owner of the email address you provided. You can unsubscribe from this feature at any time by clicking a link in the informational emails.

SSL Encryption

This site uses SSL encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential information, such as the requests you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address bar of your browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar.

When SSL encryption is enabled, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Integration of Third-Party Services and Content

This online service may incorporate third-party content, such as videos from YouTube, maps from Google Maps, RSS feeds, or graphics from other websites. This always requires that the providers of this content (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”) collect the user’s IP address. Without the IP address, they would not be able to send the content to the user’s browser. The IP address is therefore necessary for displaying this content. We make every effort to use only content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the purpose of delivering the content. However, we have no control over whether third-party providers store the IP address, for example, for statistical purposes. To the best of our knowledge, we inform users of this fact.