1. An overview of data protection

General information

The following information will provide you with an easy to navigate overview of what will happen with your personal data when you visit our website. The term “personal data” comprises all data that can be used to personally identify you. For detailed information about the subject matter of data protection, please consult our Data Protection Declaration, which we have included beneath this copy.

Data recording on our website

Who is the responsible party for the recording of data on this website (i.e. the “controller”)?

The data on this website is processed by the operator of the website, whose contact information is available under section “Information Required by Law” on this website.

How do we record your data?

We collect your data as a result of your sharing of your data with us. This may, for instance be information you enter into our contact form.

Our IT systems automatically record other data when you visit our website. This data comprises primarily technical information (e.g. web browser, operating system or time the site was accessed). This information is recorded automatically when you access our website.

What are the purposes we use your data for?

A portion of the information is generated to guarantee the error free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyse your user patterns.

What rights do you have as far as your information is concerned?

You have the right to receive information about the source, recipients and purposes of your archived personal data at any time without having to pay a fee for such disclosures. You also have the right to demand that your data are rectified, blocked or eradicated. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time under the address disclosed in section “Information Required by Law” on this website if you have questions about this or any other data protection related issues. You also have the right to log a complaint with the competent supervising agency.

Moreover, under certain circumstances, you have the right to demand the restriction of the processing of your personal data. For details, please consult the Data Protection Declaration under section “Right to Restriction of Data Processing.”

Analysis tools and tools provided by third parties

There is a possibility that your browsing patterns will be statistically analysed when your visit our website. Such analyses are performed primarily with cookies and with what we refer to as analysis programmes. As a rule, the analyses of your browsing patterns are conducted anonymously; i.e. the browsing patterns cannot be traced back to you. You have the option to object to such analyses or you can prevent their performance by not using certain tools. For detailed information about this, please consult our Data Protection Declaration below.

You do have the option to object to such analyses. We will brief you on the objection options in this Data Protection Declaration.

2. General information and mandatory information

Data protection

The operators of this website and its pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. Hence, we handle your personal data as confidential information and in compliance with the statutory data protection regulations and this Data Protection Declaration.

Whenever you use this website, a variety of personal information will be collected. Personal data comprises data that can be used to personally identify you. This Data Protection Declaration explains which data we collect as well as the purposes we use this data for. It also explains how, and for which purpose the information is collected.

We herewith advise you that the transmission of data via the Internet (i.e. through e-mail communications) may be prone to security gaps. It is not possible to completely protect data against third party access.

Information about the responsible party (referred to as the “controller” in the GDPR)

The data processing controller on this website is:

Werner & Mertz GmbH

Rheinallee 96

55120 Mainz

Germany

Phone: 06131 964-01

E-mail: info@werner-mertz.com

The controller is the natural person or legal entity that single-handedly or jointly with others makes decisions as to the purposes of and resources for the processing of personal data (e.g. names, e-mail addresses, etc.).

Revocation of your consent to the processing of data

A wide range of data processing transactions are possible only subject to your express consent. You can also revoke at any time any consent you have already given us. To do so, all you are required to do is sent us an informal notification via e-mail. This shall be without prejudice to the lawfulness of any data collection that occurred prior to your revocation.

Right to object to the collection of data in special cases; right to object to direct advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)

In the event that data are processed on the basis of Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. e or f GDPR, you have the right to at any time object to the processing of your personal data based on grounds arising from your unique situation. This also applies to any profiling based on these provisions. To determine the legal basis, on which any processing of data is based, please consult this Data Protection Declaration. If you log an objection, we will no longer process your affected personal data, unless we are in a position to present compelling protection worthy grounds for the processing of your data, that outweigh your interests, rights and freedoms or if the purpose of the processing is the claiming, exercising or defense of legal entitlements (objection pursuant to Art. 21 Sect. 1 GDPR).

If your personal data is being processed in order to engage in direct advertising, you have the right to at any time object to the processing of your affected personal data for the purposes of such advertising. This also applies to profiling to the extent that it is affiliated with such direct advertising. If you object, your personal data will subsequently no longer be used for direct advertising purposes (objection pursuant to Art. 21 Sect. 2 GDPR).

Right to log a complaint with the competent supervisory agency

In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects are entitled to log a complaint with a supervisory agency, in particular in the member state where they usually maintain their domicile, place of work or at the place where the alleged violation occurred. The right to log a complaint is in effect regardless of any other administrative or court proceedings available as legal recourses.

Right to data portability

You have the right to demand that we hand over any data we automatically process on the basis of your consent or in order to fulfil a contract be handed over to you or a third party in a commonly used, machine readable format. If you should demand the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will be done only if it is technically feasible.

SSL and/or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as purchase orders or inquiries you submit to us as the website operator, this website uses either an SSL or a TLS encryption program. You can recognize an encrypted connection by checking whether the address line of the browser switches from “http://” to “https://” and also by the appearance of the lock icon in the browser line.

If the SSL or TLS encryption is activated, data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Information about, blockage, rectification and eradication of data

Within the scope of the applicable statutory provisions, you have the right to at any time demand information about your archived personal data, their source and recipients as well as the purpose of the processing of your data. You may also have a right to have your data rectified, blocked or eradicated. If you have questions about this subject matter or any other questions about personal data, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time at the address provided in section “Information Required by Law.”

Right to demand processing restrictions

You have the right to demand the imposition of restrictions as far as the processing of your personal data is concerned. To do so, you may contact us at any time at the address provided in section “Information Required by Law.” The right to demand restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

• In the event that you should dispute the correctness of your data archived by us, we will usually need some time to verify this claim. During the time that this investigation is ongoing, you have the right to demand that we restrict the processing of your personal data.

• If the processing of your personal data was/is conducted in an unlawful manner, you have the option to demand the restriction of the processing of your data in lieu of demanding the eradication of this data.

• If we do not need your personal data any longer and you need it to exercise, defend or claim legal entitlements, you have the right to demand the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of its eradication.

• If you have raised an objection pursuant to Art. 21 Sect. 1 GDPR, your rights and our rights will have to be weighed against each other. As long as it has not been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to demand a restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, these data – with the exception of their archiving – may be processed only subject to your consent or to claim, exercise or defend legal entitlements or to protect the rights of other natural persons or legal entities or for important public interest reasons cited by the European Union or a member state of the EU.

3. Data Protection Officer

Statutory data protection officer

We have appointed a data protection officer for our company:

Boris Koppenhöfer

Koppenhöfer & Werner Beratungsgesellschaft mbH

Nikolausstrasse 11

65343 Eltville

Phone: +49(6123)9213-61

E-mail: datenschutz@werner-mertz.com

Rejection of unsolicited e-mails

We herewith object to the use of contact information published in conjunction with the mandatory information to be provided in section “Information Required by Law” to send us promotional and information material that we have not expressly requested. The operators of this website and its pages reserve the express right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of promotional information, for instance via SPAM messages.

4. Recording of data on our website

Cookies

In some instances, our website and its pages use so-called cookies. Cookies do not cause any damage to your computer and do not contain viruses. The purpose of cookies is to make our website more user friendly, effective and more secure. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer and stored by your browser.

Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies.” They are automatically deleted after your leave our site. Other cookies will remain archived on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognise your browser the next time you visit our website.

You can adjust the settings of your browser to make sure that you are notified every time cookies are placed and to enable you to accept cookies only in specific cases or to exclude the acceptance of cookies for specific situations or in general and to activate the automatic deletion of cookies when you close your browser. If you deactivate cookies, the functions of this website may be limited.

Cookies that are required for the performance of the electronic communications transaction or to provide certain functions you want to use (e.g. the shopping cart function), are stored on the basis of Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies to ensure the technically error free and optimised provision of the operator’s services. If other cookies (e.g. cookies for the analysis of your browsing patterns) should be stored, they are addressed separately in this Data Protection Declaration.

Server log files

The provider of this website and its pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser communicates to us automatically. The information comprises:

• The type and version of browser used

• The used operating system

• Referrer URL

• The hostname of the accessing computer

• The time of the server inquiry

• The IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.

This data is recorded on the basis of Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in the technically error free depiction and the optimization of the operator’s website. In order to achieve this, server log files must be recorded.

Contact form

If you submit inquiries to us via our contact form, the information provided in the contact form as well as any contact information provided therein will be stored by us in order to handle your inquiry and in the event that we have further questions. We will not share this information without your consent.

Hence, the processing of the data entered into the contact form occurs exclusively based on your consent (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR). You have the right to revoke at any time any consent you have already given us. To do so, all you are required to do is sent us an informal notification via e-mail. This shall be without prejudice to the lawfulness of any data collection that occurred prior to your revocation.

The information you have entered into the contact form shall remain with us until you ask us to eradicate the data, revoke your consent to the archiving of data or if the purpose for which the information is being archived no longer exists (e.g. after we have concluded our response to your inquiry). This shall be without prejudice to any mandatory legal provisions – in particular retention periods.

Request by e-mail, telephone or fax

If you contact us by e-mail, telephone or fax, your request, including all resulting personal data (name, request) will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of processing your request. We do not pass these data on without your consent.

The processing of these data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, if your request is related to the execution of a contract or if it is necessary to carry out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on your consent (Article 6 (1) a GDPR) and/or on our legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), since we have a legitimate interest in the effective processing of requests addressed to us.

The data sent by you to us via contact requests remain with us until you request us to delete, revoke your consent to the storage or the purpose for the data storage lapses (e.g. after completion of your request). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

Registration on this website

You have the option to register on our website to be able to use additional website functions. We shall use the data you enter only for the purpose of using the respective offer or service you have registered for. The required information we request at the time of registration must be entered in full. Otherwise we shall reject the registration.

To notify you of any important changes to the scope of our portfolio or in the event of technical modifications, we shall use the e-mail address provided during the registration process.

We shall process the data entered during the registration process on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR). You have the right to revoke at any time any consent you have already given us. To do so, all you are required to do is sent us an informal notification via e-mail. This shall be without prejudice to the lawfulness of any data collection that occurred prior to your revocation.

The data recorded during the registration process shall be stored by us as long as you are registered on our website. Subsequently, such data shall be deleted. This shall be without prejudice to mandatory statutory retention obligations.

The comment function on this website

When you use the comment function on this website, information on the time the comment was generated and your e-mail-address and, if you are not posting anonymously, the user name you have selected will be archived in addition to your comments.

Storage of the IP address

Our comment function stores the IP addresses of all users who enter comments. Given that we do not review the comments prior to publishing them, we need this information in order to take action against the author in the event of rights violations, such as defamation or propaganda.

Subscribing to comments

As a user of this website, you have the option to subscribe to comments after you have registered. You will receive a confirmation e-mail, the purpose of which is to verify whether you are the actual holder of the provided e-mail address. You can deactivate this function at any time by following a respective link in the information e-mails. The data entered in conjunction with subscriptions to comments will be deleted in this case. However, if you have communicated this information to us for other purposes and from a different location (e.g. when subscribing to the newsletter), the data shall remain in our possession.

Storage period for comments

Comments and any affiliated information (e.g. the IP address) shall be stored by us and remain on our website until the content the comment pertained to has been deleted in its entirety or if the comments had to be deleted for legal reasons (e.g. insulting comments).

Legal basis

Comments are stored on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR). You have the right to revoke at any time any consent you have already given us. To do so, all you are required to do is sent us an informal notification via e-mail. This shall be without prejudice to the lawfulness of any data collection that occurred prior to your revocation.

Processing of data (customer and contract data)

We collect, process and use personal data only to the extent necessary for the establishment, content organization or change of the legal relationship (data inventory). These actions are taken on the basis of Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. b GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the fulfilment of a contract or pre-contractual actions. We collect, process and use personal data concerning the use of our website (usage data) only to the extent that this is necessary to make it possible for users to utilize the services and to bill for them.

The collected customer data shall be eradicated upon completion of the order or the termination of the business relationship. This shall be without prejudice to any statutory retention mandates.

5. Social media

Facebook plug-ins (Like & Share button)

We have integrated plug-ins of the social network Facebook, provided by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA, on our website. You will be able to recognise Facebook plug-ins by the Facebook logo or the “Like” button on our website. An overview of the Facebook plug-ins is available under the following link: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/.

Whenever you visit our website and its pages, the plug-in will establish a direct connection between your browser and the Facebook server. As a result, Facebook will receive the information that you have visited our website with your plug-in. However, if you click the Facebook “Like” button while you are logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of our website and its pages with your Facebook profile. As a result, Facebook will be able to allocate the visit to our website and its pages to your Facebook user account. We have to point out, that we as the provider of the website do not have any knowledge of the transferred data and its use by Facebook. For more detailed information, please consult the Data Privacy Declaration of Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation.

If you do not want Facebook to be able to allocate your visit to our website and its pages to your Facebook user account, please log out of your Facebook account while you are on our website.

The use of the Facebook plug-in is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in being as visible as possible on social media.

Twitter plug-in

We have integrated functions of the social media platform Twitter into our website. These functions are provided by Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. While you use Twitter and the “Re-Tweet” function, websites you visit are linked to your Twitter account and disclosed to other users. During this process, data are transferred to Twitter as well. We must point out, that we, the providers of the website and its pages do not know anything about the content of the data transferred and the use of this information by Twitter. For more details, please consult Twitter’s Data Privacy Declaration at: https://twitter.com/en/privacy.

The use of Twitter plug-ins is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in being as visible as possible on social media.

You have the option to reset your data protection settings on Twitter under the account settings at https://twitter.com/account/settings.

Google+ plug-in

Our website and its pages use functions of Google+; the provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Recording and sharing of information: With the assistance of the Google+ button, you can publish information worldwide. The Google+ button provides you and other users with custom tailored Google content as well as content of our partners. Google saves the information you have entered for content with +1 as well as information about the website/page you viewed when you clicked on +1. Your +1 entries may appear as information along with your profile name and your photo on Google services, such as in search results or in your Google profile or in other locations on websites and ads on the Internet.

Google records information about your +1 activities to improve Google’s services for you and others. To be able to use the Google+ button, you will need a public Google profile, which is visible around the world, which must contain at least the name you have chosen for your profile. This name is used in conjunction with all Google services. In some cases, this name may also replace another name you have used when sharing content via your Google account. The identity of your Google profile may be displayed to users who know your e-mail address or are in possession of other information related to you that identifies you.

Use of the recorded information: Besides the abovementioned purposes of use, the information you provide is also used in compliance with the applicable Google Data Privacy Policies. Google may potentially publish summary statistics about the +1 activities of its users or shares this information with users and partners, such as publishers, prospective customers or affiliated websites.

The use of the Google+ plug-in is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in being as visible as possible on social media.

Instagram plug-in

We have integrated functions of the public media platform Instagram into our website. These functions are being offered by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.

If you are logged into your Instagram account, you may click the Instagram button to link contents from our website to your Instagram profile. This enables Instagram to allocate your visit to our website to your user account. We have to point out that we as the provider of the website and its pages do not have any knowledge of the content of the data transferred and its use by Instagram.

The use of the Instagram plug-in is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in being as visible as possible on social media.

For more information on this subject, please consult Instagram’s Data Privacy Declaration at: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/.

LinkedIn plug-in

Our website uses functions of the LinkedIn network. The provider is LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Any time you access one of our sites that contains functions of LinkedIn, a connection to LinkedIn’s servers is established. LinkedIn is notified that you have visited our websites with your IP address. If you click on LinkedIn’s “Recommend” button and are logged into your LinkedIn account at the time, LinkedIn will be in a position to allocate your visit to our website to your user account. We have to point out that we as the provider of the websites do not have any knowledge of the content of the transferred data and its use by LinkedIn.

The use of the LinkedIn plug-in is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in being as visible as possible on social media.

For further information on this subject, please consult LinkedIn’s Data Privacy Declaration at: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

XING plug-in

Our website uses functions of the XING network. The provider is the XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.

Any time one of our sites/pages that contains functions of XING is accessed, a connection with XING’s servers is established. As far as we know, this does not result in the archiving of any personal data. In particular, the service does not store any IP addresses or analyse user patterns.

The use of the XING plug-in is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in being as visible as possible on social media.

For more information on data protection and the XING share button please consult the Data Protection Declaration of Xing at: https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection.

6. Analysis tools and advertising

Google Analytics

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

Google Analytics uses so-called cookies. Cookies are text files, which are stored on your computer and that enable an analysis of the use of the website by users. The information generated by cookies on your use of this website is usually transferred to a Google server in the United States, where it is stored.

The storage of Google Analytics cookies and the utilization of this analysis tool are based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of this website has a legitimate interest in the analysis of user patterns to optimize both, the services offered online and the operator’s advertising activities.

IP anonymization

On this website, we have activated the IP anonymization function. As a result, your IP address will be abbreviated by Google within the member states of the European Union or in other states that have ratified the Convention on the European Economic Area prior to its transmission to the United States. The full IP address will be transmitted to one of Google’s servers in the United States and abbreviated there only in exceptional cases. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google shall use this information to analyse your use of this website to generate reports on website activities and to render other services to the operator of this website that are related to the use of the website and the Internet. The IP address transmitted in conjunction with Google Analytics from your browser shall not be merged with other data in Google’s possession.

Browser plug-in

You do have the option to prevent the archiving of cookies by making pertinent changes to the settings of your browser software. However, we have to point out that in this case you may not be able to use all of the functions of this website to their fullest extent. Moreover, you have the option prevent the recording of the data generated by the cookie and affiliated with your use of the website (including your IP address) by Google as well as the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

Objection to the recording of data

You have the option to prevent the recording of your data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link. This will result in the placement of an opt out cookie, which prevents the recording of your data during future visits to this website: Google Analytics deactivation.

For more information about the handling of user data by Google Analytics, please consult Google’s Data Privacy Declaration at: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en.

Contract data processing

We have executed a contract data processing agreement with Google and are implementing the stringent provisions of the German data protection agencies to the fullest when using Google Analytics.

Demographic parameters provided by Google Analytics

This website uses the function “demographic parameters” provided by Google Analytics. It makes it possible to generate reports providing information on the age, gender and interests of website visitors. The sources of this information are interest-related advertising by Google as well as visitor data obtained from third party providers. This data cannot be allocated to a specific individual. You have the option to deactivate this function at any time by making pertinent settings changes for advertising in your Google account or you can generally prohibit the recording of your data by Google Analytics as explained in section “Objection to the recording of data.”

Archiving period

Data on the user or incident level stored by Google linked to cookies, user IDs or advertising IDs (e.g. DoubleClick cookies, Android advertising ID) will be anonymized or deleted after 14 month. For details please click the following link: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/7667196?hl=de

WordPress Stats

This website uses the WordPress tool Stats in order to statistically analyse user access information. The provider of the solution is Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110-4929, USA.

WordPress Stats uses cookies that are stored on your computer and that make it possible to analyse the use of this website. The information generated by the cookies concerning the use of our website is stored on servers in the United States. Your IP address is rendered anonymous after processing and prior to the storage of the data.

“WordPress Stats” cookies will remain on your device until you delete them.

The storage of “WordPress Stats” cookies and the use of this analysis tool are based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the anonymous analysis of user patterns, in order to optimize the operator’s web offerings and advertising.

You can set up your browser in such a manner that you will be notified anytime cookies are placed and you can permit cookies only in certain cases or exclude the acceptance of cookies in certain instances or in general and you can also activate the automatic deletion of cookies upon closing of the browser. If you deactivate cookies, the functions of this website may be limited.

You do have the option to object to the collection and use of your data for future implications by placing an opt out cookie into your browser by clicking on the following link: https://www.quantcast.com/opt-out/.

If you delete the cookies on your computer, you must set the opt-out cookie again.

Google Analytics Remarketing

Our websites use the functions of Google Analytics Remarketing in combination with the functions of Google AdWords and Google DoubleClick, which work on all devices. The provider of these solutions is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

This function makes it possible to connect the advertising target groups generated with Google Analytics Remarketing with the functions of Google AdWords and Google DoubleClick, which work on all devices. This makes it possible to display interest-based customized advertising messages, depending on your prior usage and browsing patterns on a device (e.g. cell phone) in a manner tailored to you as well as on any of your devices (e.g. tablet or PC).

If you have given us pertinent consent, Google will connect your web and app browser progressions with your Google account for this purpose. As a result, it is possible to display the same personalized advertising messages on every device you log into with your Google account.

To support this function, Google Analytics records Google authenticated IDs of users that are temporarily connected with our Google Analytics data to define and compile the target groups for the ads to be displayed on all devices.

You have the option to permanently object to remarketing / targeting across all devices by deactivating personalized advertising in your Google account. To do this, please follow this link: https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/.

The consolidation of the recorded data in your Google account shall occur exclusively based on your consent, which you may give to Google and also revoke there (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR). Data recording processes that are not consolidated in your Google account (for instance because you do not have a Google account or have objected to the consolidation of data), the recording of data is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The legitimate interest arises from the fact that the operator of the website has a legitimate interest in the anonymized analysis of website visitor for advertising purposes.

For further information and the pertinent data protection regulations, please consult the Data Privacy Policies of Google at: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads?hl=en.

Google AdWords and Google Conversion Tracking

This website uses Google AdWords. AdWords is an online promotional program of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States (“Google”).

In conjunction with Google AdWords, we use a tool called Conversion Tracking. If you click on an ad posted by Google, a cookie for Conversion Tracking purposes will be placed. Cookies are small text files the web browser places on the user’s computer. These cookies expire after 30 days and are not used to personally identify users. If the user visits certain pages of this website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and we will be able to recognise that the user has clicked on an ad and has been linked to this page.

A different cookie is allocated to every Google AdWords customer. These cookies cannot be tracked via websites of AdWords customers. The information obtained with the assistance of the Conversion cookie is used to generate Conversion statistics for AdWords customers who have opted to use Conversion Tracking. The users receive the total number of users that have clicked on their ads and have been linked to a page equipped with a Conversion Tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that would allow them to personally identify these users. If you do not want to participate in tracking, you have the option to object to this use by easily deactivating the Google Conversion Tracking cookie via your web browser under user settings. If you do this, you will not be included in the Conversion Tracking statistics.

The storage of “Conversion” cookies and the use of this tracking tool are based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the analysis of user patterns, in order to optimize the operator’s web offerings and advertising.

To review more detailed information about Google AdWords and Google Conversion Tracking, please consult the Data Privacy Policies of Google at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

You can set up your browser in such a manner that you will be notified anytime cookies are placed and you can permit cookies only in certain cases or exclude the acceptance of cookies in certain instances or in general and you can also activate the automatic deletion of cookies upon closing of the browser. If you deactivate cookies, the functions of this website may be limited.

Facebook Pixel

To measure our conversion rates, our website uses the visitor activity pixel of Facebook, Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA (“Facebook”).

This tool allows the tracking of page visitors after they have been linked to the website of the provider after clicking on a Facebook ad. This makes it possible to analyse the effectiveness of Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes and to optimize future advertising campaigns.

For us as the operators of this website, the collected data is anonymous. We are not in a position to arrive at any conclusions as to the identity of users. However, Facebook archives the information and processes it, so that it is possible to make a connection to the respective user profile and Facebook is in a position to use the data for its own promotional purposes in compliance with the Facebook Data Usage Policy. This enables Facebook to display ads on Facebook pages as well as in locations outside of Facebook. We as the operator of this website have no control over the use of such data.

The use of Facebook Pixel is based on Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR. The operator of the website has a legitimate interest in effective advertising campaigns, which also include social media.

In Facebook’s Data Privacy Policies, you will find additional information about the protection of your privacy at: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.

You also have the option to deactivate the remarketing function “Custom Audiences” in the ad settings section under https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/?entry_product=ad_settings_screen. To do this, you first have to log into Facebook.

If you do not have a Facebook account, you can deactivate any user based advertising by Facebook on the website of the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance: http://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/.

7. Newsletter

Newsletter data

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter offered on this website, we will need from you an e-mail address as well as information that allow us to verify that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided and consent to the receipt of the newsletter. No further data shall be collected or shall be collected only on a voluntary basis. We shall use such data only for the sending of the requested information and shall not share such data with any third parties.

The processing of the information entered into the newsletter subscription form shall occur exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR). You may revoke the consent you have given to the archiving of data, the e-mail address and the use of this information for the sending of the newsletter at any time, for instance by clicking on the “Unsubscribe” link in the newsletter. This shall be without prejudice to the lawfulness of any data processing transactions that have taken place to date.

The data you archive with us for the purpose of the newsletter subscription shall be archived by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter. Once you cancel your subscription to the newsletter, the data shall be deleted. This shall not affect data we have been archiving for other purposes.

8. Plug-ins and Tools

YouTube with expanded data protection integration

Our website uses plug-ins of the YouTube platform, which is being operated by YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

We use YouTube in the expanded data protection mode. According to YouTube, this mode ensures that YouTube does not store any information about visitors to this website before they watch the video. Nevertheless, this does not necessarily mean that the sharing of data with YouTube partners can be ruled out as a result of the expanded data protection mode. For instance, regardless of whether you are watching a video, YouTube will always establish a connection with the Google DoubleClick network.

As soon as you start to play a YouTube video on our website, a connection to YouTube’s servers will be established. As a result, the YouTube server will be notified, which of our pages you have visited. If you are logged into your YouTube account while you visit our site, you enable YouTube to directly allocate your browsing patterns to your personal profile. You have the option to prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

Furthermore, after you have started to play a video, YouTube will be able to place various cookies on your device. With the assistance of these cookies, YouTube will be able to obtain information about our website visitor. Among other things, this information will be used to generate video statistics with the aim of improving the user friendliness of the site and to prevent attempts to commit fraud. These cookies will stay on your device until you delete them.

Under certain circumstances, additional data processing transactions may be triggered after you have started to play a YouTube video, which are beyond our control.

The use of YouTube is based on our interest in presenting our online content in an appealing manner. Pursuant to Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR, this is a legitimate interest.

For more information on how YouTube handles user data, please consult the YouTube Data Privacy Policy under: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

.

Google Maps (with consent)

This website uses Google Maps, a mapping/location service, via an API. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

To warrant data protection on our website, you will find that Google Maps has been deactivated when you visit our website for the first time. A direct connection to Google’s servers will not be established until you have activated Google Maps autonomously at your end (i.e. given your consent pursuant to Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR). This will prevent the transfer of your data to Google during your first visit to our website.

Once you have activated the service, Google Maps will store your IP address. As a rule, it is subsequently transferred to a Google server in the United States, where it is stored. The provider of this website does not have any control over this data transfer once Google Maps has been activated.

For more information about the handling of user data, please consult the Data Privacy Declaration of Google under the following link: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

9. Custom Services

Job Applications

We offer website visitors the opportunity to submit job applications to us (e.g. via e-mail, via postal services on by submitting the online job application form). Below, we will brief you on the scope, purpose and use of the personal data collected from you in conjunction with the application process. We assure you that the collection, processing and use of your data will occur in compliance with the applicable data privacy rights and all other statutory provisions and that your data will always be treated as strictly confidential.

Scope and purpose of the collection of data

If you submit a job application to us, we will process any affiliated personal data (e.g. contact and communications data, application documents, notes taken during job interviews, etc.), if they are required to make a decision concerning the establishment or an employment relationship. The legal grounds for the aforementioned are § 26 New GDPR according to German Law (Negotiation of an Employment Relationship), Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. b GDPR (General Contract Negotiations) and – provided you have given us your consent – Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR. You may revoke any consent given at any time. Within our company, your personal data will only be shared with individuals who are involved in the processing of your job application.

If your job application should result in your recruitment, the data you have submitted will be archived on the grounds of § 26 New GDPR and Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. b GDPR for the purpose of implementing the employment relationship in our data processing system.

Data Archiving Period

If we should not be able to offer you a position, if you refuse a job offer, retract your application, revoke your consent to the processing of your data or ask us to delete your data, we will store your transferred data, incl. any physically submitted application documents for a maximum of 6 months after the conclusion of the application process (retention period) to enable us to track the details of the application process in the event of disparities (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. f GDPR).

YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO OBJECT TO THIS STORAGE/RETENTION OF YOUR DATA IF YOU HAVE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS TO DO SO THAT OUTWEIGH OUR INTERESTS.

Once the retention period has expired, the data will be deleted, unless we are subject to any other statutory retention obligations or if any other legal grounds exist to continue to store the data. If it should be foreseeable that the retention of your data will be necessary after the retention period has expired (e.g. due to imminent or pending litigation), the data shall not be deleted until the data have become irrelevant. This shall be without prejudice to any other statutory retention periods.

Privacy policy
General

As operators of this and other websites, we take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

This privacy policy informs you about the type, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data (hereinafter referred to as “data”) on our website and the web pages, functions and content associated with it, as well as our other external online presence, such as our social media profiles, the other services we offer and the IT systems we use.
With regard to the terms used, such as “personal data” and “processing”, we refer to the definitions in Art. 4 of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Security measures

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk in accordance with Art. 32 GDPR, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of the processing, as well as the varying likelihood and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons.

Those measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling both physical access to it and regulating electronic access, data entry, disclosure, assurance of availability and separation of the data.

Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure that data subjects can exercise their rights, that data is erased and that there is an appropriate response if the data is compromised. We also take account of protection of personal data during the development and selection of hardware, software and processes, in accordance with the principle of data protection through the design of technology and default settings that support data protection (Art. 25 GDPR).

The security measures include, in particular, encrypted transmission of data between your browser and our server.

SSL and TLS encryption
For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or enquiries that you send to us as the site operator, this site uses the latest SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read in plain text by third parties.

Data security on the internet

We would like to point out that data transmission over the internet (e.g. communication by email) can involve security loopholes. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Data processing on this website

On the one hand, your data is collected by you providing it to us. This may, for example, take the form of data that you enter on a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically by IT systems when you visit the website. This is mainly technical data such as information about the internet browser, operating system or time of the page view. This data is collected automatically as soon as you access our website.

Some of the data is collected to ensure error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour.

You have the right to obtain information about the origin, recipient and purpose of your stored personal data at any time. You also have a right to request rectification, blocking or erasure of that data. You can contact us at any time at the address provided in the legal notice if you have any further questions about data protection. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority.

Furthermore, you have the right to request the restriction of processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.

Details of your rights as a data subject can be found in the “General and mandatory information” section of this privacy policy.

Analytical tools and tools of third parties

When you visit our website, your usage behaviour can be evaluated statistically. This is achieved mainly with so-called analytical programs.

Detailed information about this can be found in the “Analytical tools and marketing” section of this privacy policy.

Payment transactions on this website

If, on conclusion of a contract involving costs, there is an obligation to provide us with your payment data (e.g. account number in the case of a direct debit authorisation), this data is required for the processing of payments.

Payment transactions using common means of payment (Visa/MasterCard, direct debit) are made exclusively via an encrypted SSL or TLS connection. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

With encrypted communication, the payment data that you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Cooperation with processors and third parties

If, in the course of our processing, we disclose data to other persons or companies (commissioned data processors or third parties), transmit it to them or otherwise grant them access to data, this happens only on the basis of legal permission (e.g. if transmission of the data to third parties, such as to payment service providers, is necessary for the performance of the contract pursuant to Art. 6(1) point (b) GDPR), if you have given your consent, if a legal obligation provides for this or on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. when using agents, web hosts, etc.).

If we commission third parties to process data on our behalf (commissioned data processing), this is done on the basis of an agreement pursuant to Art. 28(3) GDPR.

Information about data transfer to the USA and other third countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e. a country outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if this is done in the context of using third-party services or disclosing or transferring data to third parties, this happens only to fulfil our (pre-)contractual obligations, on the basis of your consent, due to a legal obligation or on the basis of our legitimate interests. Subject to legal or contractual permission, we only process or allow the processing of data in a third country if the special requirements of Art. 44 ff. GDPR are met. This means that the processing is carried out, for example, on the basis of special guarantees, such as officially recognised determination of a level of data protection corresponding to the EU or compliance with officially recognised special contractual obligations (so-called “standard contractual clauses”).

Among other things, we use tools from companies based in the USA or other third countries that are not secure in terms of data protection law. When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in those third countries. Please note that a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed in these countries. For example, US companies are obliged to hand over personal data to the security authorities without you as a data subject being able to take legal action to prevent this. It cannot therefore be ruled out that the US authorities (e.g. intelligence services) will process, evaluate and permanently store your data located on US servers for surveillance purposes. We have no control over these processing activities.

Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period is specified in this privacy policy, your personal data is kept by us until the purpose for processing the data no longer applies.

If you assert a legitimate request for erasure or revoke consent to data processing, your data will be erased unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g. retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, the data will be erased once those reasons no longer apply.

Explanation of terms

GDPR

EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU Regulation 2016/679)
Preeminent data protection law at European level with direct legal effect in all EU member states

BDSG
Federal Data Protection Act, the German data protection act.

TTDSG
Act on Data Protection and Privacy in Telecommunications and Telemedia (Telecommunications Telemedia Data Protection Act)
Adapts the previous data protection provisions on telemedia and telecommunications services to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) and transposes the regulations of Directive 2002/58/EC (ePrivacy Directive) into national law.

Personal data
Any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. (Art. 4(1) GDPR)

Controller
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. (Art. 4(7) GDPR)

Consent (of the data subject)
Any voluntary, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes in the form of a statement or other unambiguous affirmative act by which they signify their agreement to processing of their personal data. (Art. 4(11) GDPR)

Controller
The controller for data processing within the meaning of data protection law on this website is

Werner & Mertz GmbH
Rheinallee 96
55120 Mainz, Germany

For contact details, see legal notice

If another operator of the website is named in the legal notice, that operator is also deemed to be the controller within the meaning of data protection law for processing operations on this website.

Data protection officer pursuant to Art. 37 – 39 GDPR
We have appointed a data protection officer:

Boris Koppenhöfer
c/o Koppenhöfer & Werner Beratungsgesellschaft mbH
Nikolausstraße 11
65343 Eltville am Rhein, Germany
Tel.: +49(6123)9213-61
Email: datenschutz@werner-mertz.com

Revocation of your consent to data processing
Many data processing operations are only possible with your explicit consent. You can revoke consent that you have given previously at any time. All you need to do is send us an informal message by email. The lawfulness of the data processing carried out up to the point of revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to data processing in specific cases and to direct marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)
IF THE DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6(1) POINT E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA AT ANY TIME FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THOSE PROVISIONS. THE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS CARRIED OUT CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSERTING, EXERCISING OR DEFENDING LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(1) GDPR).
IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING INSOFAR AS IT IS CONNECTED WITH SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(2) GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
In the event of breaches of the GDPR or other provisions of data protection law, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority for data protection, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, their place of work or the place of the alleged breach. The right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy.

Right to data portability
You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in performance of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done insofar as it is technically feasible.

Access, erasure and rectification
Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right to access information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients and the purpose of the data processing at any time and, if applicable, a right to rectification or erasure of that data. You can contact us at any time at the address given in the legal notice for this purpose and with any other questions about personal data.

Right to restrict processing
You have the right to request the restriction of processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time at the address given in the legal notice for this purpose. The right to restrict processing exists in the following cases:

• If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data held by us, we will usually need time to verify this. For the duration of this verification procedure, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data.
• If processing of your personal data has happened / is happening unlawfully, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of erasure.
• If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend or enforce legal claims, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of erasure.
• If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to demand restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, apart from being stored such data may only be processed with your consent, for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

External hosting
Our websites are hosted by external service providers (hosts). The personal data collected on these websites is stored on the host’s servers. This may include, but is not limited to, IP addresses, contact requests, meta and communication data, contractual data, contact details, names, website access and other data generated via a website.
The host is used for the purpose of contract fulfilment vis-à-vis our potential and existing customers (Art. 6(1) point b GDPR) and in the interest of secure, fast and efficient provision of our website by a professional provider (Art. 6(1) point (f) GDPR). Insofar as corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1) point (a) GDPR and Section 25(1) TTDSG, provided that the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s end device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Our host will only process your data to the extent necessary to fulfil its performance obligations and follow our instructions in relation to such data.

We use the following host(s):

Hetzner Online GmbH
Industriestr. 25
91710 Gunzenhausen

Service providers / agencies
We use service providers for the development, administration and/or maintenance of our website.
Our service providers only process your data to the extent necessary to fulfil their tasks and follow our instructions in relation to such data.

We use the following service provider(s):

vollbild – visuelle medien
Immelmannstraße 7A
55124 Mainz

Cookies
Our internet pages use so-called “cookies”. Cookies are small text files, and they do not cause any damage to your end device. They are stored either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your end device. Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your end device until you delete them yourself or until they are automatically deleted by your web browser.
In some cases, cookies from third-party companies may also be stored on your end device when you visit our site (third-party cookies). These enable us or you to use certain services of the third-party company (e.g. cookies for processing payment services).
Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g. the shopping basket function or the display of videos). Other cookies are used to evaluate user behaviour or display advertising.
Cookies that are necessary to carry out the electronic communication process, to provide certain functions that you have requested (e.g. for the shopping basket function) or to optimise the website (e.g. cookies to measure the web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Art. 6(1) point (f) GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for technically error-free and optimised provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies and similar recognition technologies has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of that consent (Art. 6(1) point (a) GDPR and Section 25(1) TTDSG); consent may be revoked at any time.
You can set your browser so that you are informed when cookies are downloaded and only allow cookies in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general and activate automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are disabled, the functionality of this website may be limited.
If cookies are used by third-party companies or for analytical purposes, we will inform you about this separately within the framework of this privacy policy and, if necessary, request your consent.

Local storage
In order for you to be able to adapt our web pages to your use, we use so-called local storage technology (also referred to as “local data” and “local storage”) in addition to cookies. In this process, data is stored locally in the cache of your browser and remains there even when you close the browser window or exit the program – unless you clear the cache.
Local storage allows your preferences when using our website to be stored on your computer and used by you. The data from the local storage is used, for example, to recognise you as a user of the website or to apply the settings you have put in place when you visit the website again.
Third parties cannot access the data stored in the local storage. It is not passed on to third parties and is not used for purposes other than those mentioned above.
Where the use of local storage technology is not absolutely necessary to enable the functionality of our website, we only use it with your consent, see Section 25 TTDSG, Art. 6(1) point (a) GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time.

Consent tool
Our website uses consent technology to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies on your end device or the use of certain technologies and to document this in accordance with data protection law.
When you visit our website, a connection is established to our servers in order to obtain your consent and other declarations regarding the use of cookies. We then save a cookie in your browser in order to be able to allocate the consent given – or its revocation – to you. The data collected in this way is stored until you request us to erase it, delete the cookie yourself or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Statutory retention obligations remain unaffected.
The purpose is to obtain the consent for the use of cookies required by law. The legal basis for this is Art. 6(1) point (c) GDPR.

CCM19
Our websites use CCM19 to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies on your end device or the use of certain technologies and to document this in accordance with data protection law. The provider of this technology is Papoo Software & Media GmbH, Auguststr. 4, 53229 Bonn, Germany (hereinafter “CCM19”).
When you visit our website, a connection is established to the servers of CCM19 in order to obtain your consent and other declarations regarding the use of cookies. CCM19 then saves a cookie in your browser in order to be able to allocate the consent given – or its revocation – to you. The data collected in this way is stored until you request us to erase it, delete the CCM19 cookie yourself or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Statutory retention obligations remain unaffected.
CCM19 is used in order to obtain the consent for the use of cookies required by law. The legal basis for this is Art. 6(1) point (c) GDPR.

Cookie settings

CCM19 Options

Cookie/local storage information

Cookie Informations

Server log files
The provider of the site automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. This information comprises:

• Browser type and version
• Operating system used
• Referrer URL
• Host name of the accessing computer
• Time of the server request
• IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.
Collection of this data is based on Art. 6(1) point (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in technically error-free presentation and optimisation of its website – the server log files must be recorded for this purpose.

Contact form
If you send us enquiries via the contact form, the information you provide on the enquiry form, including the contact details you specify there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the enquiry and for any follow-up queries. We do not pass on this data without your consent.
This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6(1) point (b) GDPR if your request is related to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in effective handling of the enquiries addressed to us (Art. 6(1) point (f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6(1) point (a) GDPR) if this has been requested.
The data you enter on the contact form is retained by us until you request us to erase it, revoke your consent to its storage or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g. when we have finished processing your enquiry). Statutory provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

Blogger enquiry
If you send us an enquiry via a blogger enquiry form, the information you provide on the form, including the contact details you specify there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the blogger enquiry and for any follow-up queries. We do not pass on this data without your consent.
Processing of the data entered on the form is therefore always based on your consent (Art. 6(1) point (a) GDPR). You can revoke that consent at any time. All you need to do is send us an informal message by email. The lawfulness of the data processing operations carried out up to the point of revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.
This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6(1) point (b) GDPR if your request is related to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures.
The data you enter on the contact form is retained by us until you request us to erase it, revoke your consent to its storage or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g. when we have finished processing your enquiry). Statutory provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

Registration on certain web pages
You may register on some of our web pages to use additional features on the page. We use the data entered in this connection only for the purpose of providing the respective offer or service for which you have registered. The mandatory information requested during registration must be provided in full. Otherwise registration will be refused.
For important changes, for example in the scope of the offer or in the case of technically necessary changes, we use the email address provided during registration to inform you.
The data entered during registration is processed, among other things, for the purpose of implementing the contractual relationship established by your registration and, if necessary, for initiating further contractual relationships (Art. 6(1) point (b) GDPR).
Processing of the data entered during registration is based, among other things, on your consent (Art. 6(1) point (a) GDPR). You can revoke any consent you have given at any time. All you need to do is send us an informal message by email. The lawfulness of the data processing already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.
The data collected during registration is stored by us for as long as you are registered on our website and is then erased. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Comment function
For comment functions on our website, in addition to your comment, details of when the comment was created, your email address and, unless you post anonymously, the user name you have chosen will be stored.

Storage of IP addresses
Our comment function may store the IP addresses of users who post comments. Since we do not check comments on our site before they are activated, we need this data in order to be able to take action against the author in the event of breaches of the law such as posting of offensive comments or propaganda.

Subscription to comments
As a user of the site, you may be able to subscribe to comments after registering. You will usually receive a confirmation email to check that you are the owner of the email address provided. You can unsubscribe from this function at any time via a link in the notification emails. The data entered in the context of subscribing to comments is erased in this case; however, if you have transmitted this data to us for other purposes and at another point (e.g. to subscribe to the newsletter), it will be retained by us.

Storage period for comments
The comments and the associated data (e.g. IP address) are stored and remain on our website until the commented content has been completely erased or the comments have to be erased for legal reasons (e.g. offensive comments).

Legal basis
Storage of the comments is based on your consent (Art. 6(1) point (a) GDPR). You can revoke any consent you have given at any time. All you need to do is send us an informal message by email. The lawfulness of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.