Privacy Policy of GRONARD GmbH
View German version of this page for legaly relevant document
Privacy Policy of GRONARD GmbH
Data protection is of particular importance to GRONARD GmbH. Our efforts to comply with the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) in its new version are primarily aimed at respecting your privacy.
For modern companies like GRONARD GmbH, the use of electronic data processing (EDP) systems is indispensable. We naturally take the utmost care to comply with legal regulations. Using the GRONARD GmbH website is generally possible without providing any personal data. However, if a data subject wishes to use special services offered by our company via our website, the processing of personal data may become necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally obtain the data subject's consent.
We will under no circumstances sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing or other purposes. If you do not agree with the provisions of the data protection regulations, please do not send us any personal data.
1. General Information / Definitions
This privacy policy is based on terms from the GDPR and is intended to be easily readable and understandable for everyone. Therefore, we would like to explain several terms in advance:
a) Personal data:
Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter referred to as "data subject"). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.
b) Data subject:
A data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the controller.
c) Processing
Processing means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.
d) Restriction of processing:
Restriction of processing means the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future.
e) Profiling:
Profiling means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements.
f) Profiling:
Profiling means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyze or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements.
2. Information on the collection of personal data
(1) Below we inform you about the collection of personal data when using our website. Personal data is any data that can be related to you personally, e.g. B. Name, address, email addresses, user behavior, etc..
(2) The controller pursuant to Article 4(7) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is
GRONARD GmbH
represented by Managing Directors Lothar Gronard and Felix Gronard
Bayerwaldstraße 23
81737 Munich, Germany
(3) Our data protection officer is:
Mr. Sascha Weller, Attorney at Law, IDR – Institute for Data Protection Law,
Ziegelbräustraße 7
85049 Ingolstadt, Germany
(4) When you contact us by email or via a contact form, the data you provide (your Your email address, and optionally your name and telephone number, are automatically stored by us to answer your questions. Such personal data voluntarily transmitted by a data subject to the controller is stored exclusively for the purpose of processing the request or contacting the data subject. We delete the data collected in this context once storage is no longer necessary, or restrict processing if there are statutory retention obligations.
(5) Falls wir für einzelne Funktionen unseres Angebots auf beauftragte Dienstleister zurückgreifen oder Ihre Daten für werbliche Zwecke nutzen möchten, werden wir Sie untenstehend im Detail über die jeweiligen Vorgänge informieren. Dabei nennen wir auch die festgelegten Kriterien der Speicherdauer.
(6) As the controller, we have implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection possible for the personal data processed via this website. However, internet-based data transmissions can fundamentally have security vulnerabilities, so absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transmit personal data to us via alternative means, such as by telephone.
(7) As a responsible company, we do not use automated decision-making or profiling.
3. Your rights
(1) You have the following rights with respect to your personal data:
Right of access:
Every data subject has the right granted by the GDPR to obtain from the controller, free of charge, information about the personal data stored about him or her and a copy of this information. Furthermore, the European legislator has granted the data subject access to the following information:
- the processing purposes
- the categories of personal data that are processed
- the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organisations
- If possible, the planned duration for which the personal data will be stored, or, if this is not possible, the criteria used to determine that duration.
- the existence of a right to rectification or erasure of personal data concerning them or to restriction of processing by the controller or a right to object to such processing
- the existence of a right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
- If the personal data are not collected from the data subject: All available information about the source of the data.
- the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, pursuant to Article 22(1) and (4) GDPR and – at least in those cases – meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and the envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject.
Furthermore, the data subject has the right to obtain information as to whether personal data has been transferred to a third country or to an international organization. If this is the case, the data subject also has the right to be informed of the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of access, they may contact an employee of the controller at any time.
Right to withdraw consent: Every data subject has the right to withdraw their consent to the processing of their personal data at any time. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to withdraw consent, they may contact an employee of the controller at any time and via any communication channel.
Right to rectification: The data subject has the right to obtain from the controller without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning them. Taking into account the purposes of the processing, the data subject has the right to have incomplete personal data completed, including by means of providing a supplementary statement. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right of access, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.
Right to erasure / right to be forgotten: The data subject has the right to request from the controller the erasure of personal data concerning them without undue delay, and the controller is obligated to erase personal data without undue delay where one of the following grounds applies:
- where the accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data,
- the processing is unlawful and the data subject objects to the erasure of the personal data and requests the restriction of its use instead;
- the controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing, but the data subject requires them for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, or
- the data subject has objected to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) pending the verification of whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.
If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to restriction of processing, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.
Right to object to processing: Every data subject has the right granted by the GDPR to object, on grounds relating to their particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning them which is based on point (e) or (f) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.
In the event of an objection, we will no longer process the personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or the processing serves the purpose of establishing, exercising or defending legal claims. Where
personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, the data subject has the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning them for such marketing. This also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to processing for direct marketing purposes, we will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.
Furthermore, the data subject has the right to object, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning him or her which is carried out by us for scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) GDPR, unless such processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.
To exercise the right to object, the data subject can contact any employee directly. The data subject is also free, in the context of the use of information society services and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to exercise his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.
Right to data portability: The data subject has the right to receive the personal data concerning him or her, which he or she has provided to a controller, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and has the right to transmit those data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to whom the personal data have been provided, provided that the processing is based on consent pursuant to Article 6(1)(a) or Article 9(2)(a) or on a contract pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) and
- The processing is carried out using automated procedures.
- When exercising their right to data portability pursuant to Article 20(1) GDPR, the data subject has the right to have their personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and provided that the rights and freedoms of other persons are not adversely affected.
If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to data portability, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.
Automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling: Every data subject has the right granted by the GDPR not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning them or similarly significantly affects them, unless the decision
(1) is necessary for entering into, or performing, a contract between the data subject and the controller, or (2) is authorized by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and which also lays down suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is based on the data subject’s explicit consent.
If the decision to conclude or perform a contract between the data subject and the controller is necessary or is based on the data subject's explicit consent, we will implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, including at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view, and to contet the decision. If the data subject wishes to exercise rights relating to automated decision-making, he or she may contact an employee of the controller at any time.
(2) You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority regarding our processing of your personal data. The supervisory authority responsible for our company is:
Bavarian State Office for Data
Protection Supervision,
Promenade 18,
91522 Ansbach, Germany
4. Collection of Personal Data
(1) When you use our website for purely informational purposes, i.e., if you do not register or otherwise provide us with information, we only collect the personal data that your browser transmits to our server. If you wish to view our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary for us to display our website to you and to ensure its stability and security (legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR):
- IP address
- Date and time of the request
- Time zone difference to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
- Internet service provider of the accessing system
- Content of the request (specific page)
- Access status/HTTP status code
- each data volume transferred
- Website from which the request originates (referrer)
- browser
- Operating system and its interface
- Language and version of the browser software.
(2) In addition to the data mentioned above, cookies are stored on your computer when you use our website. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your hard drive and assigned to the browser you are using. They allow the entity that sets the cookie (in this case, us) to receive certain information. Cookies cannot run programs or transmit viruses to your computer. They serve to make the overall internet experience more user-friendly and effective.
(3) Use of cookies:
1. The following cookie types/functions are generally distinguished:
- a) Transient cookies are automatically deleted when you close your browser. These include session cookies. These store a so-called session ID, which allows different requests from your browser to be associated with the same session. This allows your computer to be recognized when you return to our website. Session cookies are deleted when you log out or close your browser.
- b) Persistent cookies are automatically deleted after a predetermined period, which can vary depending on the cookie. You can delete cookies at any time in your browser's security settings.
- c) Necessary cookies are those that are absolutely essential for the operation of a website.
- d) Statistics, marketing, or personalization cookies are used, among other things, for audience measurement and, for example, when a user's interests or behavior are to be stored in a user profile. This process is also known as "tracking." If we use cookies or tracking services, we will inform you separately in our privacy policy or when obtaining your consent.
- e) You can configure your browser settings according to your preferences and, for example, refuse the acceptance of third-party cookies or all cookies. Please note that you may not be able to use all the functions of this website if you do so.
- f) We use cookies to identify you on subsequent visits if you have an account with us. Otherwise, you would have to log in again for each visit.
2. In principle, data processed using cookies is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f)) or, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b)). If we ask for your consent, the legal basis for processing the data is your explicit consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a)).
3. You naturally have the right to withdraw your consent or object to the processing of your data by cookie technologies at any time ("opt-out"). You can initially register your objection using your browser settings. An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes can also be registered via a variety of services, especially in the case of tracking, through the US website https://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU website https://www.youronlinechoices.com/ or generally at https://optout.aboutads.info.
5. Further functions and offers on our website
(1) In addition to the purely informational use of our website, we offer various services that you can use if you are interested. To use these services, you will generally need to provide further personal data, which we use to provide the respective service and for which the aforementioned data processing principles apply.
(2) In some cases, we use external service providers to process your data. These providers have been carefully selected and commissioned by us, are bound by our instructions, and are regularly monitored.
(3) The hosting services we use serve to provide the following services: infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space and database services, security services, and technical maintenance services, which we use for the purpose of operating this online service.
In this context, we, or our hosting provider, process inventory data, contact data, content data, contract data, usage data, meta and communication data of customers, prospective customers, and visitors to this online service based on our legitimate interests in the efficient and secure provision of this online service pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR in conjunction with Art. 28 GDPR.
(4) We may also share your personal data with third parties if we offer promotions, contests, contracts, or similar services jointly with partners. You will receive more detailed information when you provide your personal data or below in the description of the offer.
(5) If our service providers or partners are located in a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we will inform you about the consequences of this in the description of the offer.
6. Data protection in job applications
The data controller collects and processes the personal data of applicants for the purpose of processing the application. Processing may also be carried out electronically. This is particularly the case when an applicant submits application documents electronically, for example, by email or via a contact form on the website. If the data controller concludes an employment contract with an applicant, the transmitted data will be stored for the purpose of processing the employment contract in compliance with legal requirements. If the data controller does not conclude an employment contract with the applicant, the application documents will be automatically deleted, unless other legitimate interests of the data controller preclude deletion. A legitimate interest in this sense is, for example, the need to retain evidence in proceedings under the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).
The processing of applicant data is carried out to fulfill our (pre-)contractual obligations within the framework of the application process in accordance with Article 6(1)(b ) GDPR. GDPR Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR insofar as the data processing is necessary for us, e.g. in the context of legal proceedings (in Germany, § 26 BDSG also applies).
7. Objection or revocation of consent to the processing of your data
(1) If you have given your consent to the processing of your data, you can revoke it at any time and via any communication channel. Such a revocation affects the lawfulness of processing your personal data after you have communicated it to us.
(2) Insofar as we base the processing of your personal data on the balancing of interests, you can object to the processing. This is the case, in particular, if the processing is not necessary for the performance of a contract with you, which we will explain in the following description of the functions. When exercising such an objection, we ask that you explain the reasons why we should not process your personal data as we have done. In the event of your justified objection, we will review the situation and either cease or adjust the data processing or demonstrate to you our compelling legitimate grounds on which we continue the processing.
(3) Of course, you can object to the processing of your personal data for advertising and data analysis purposes at any time. You can contact us regarding your objection to advertising at the address given in section 2. (2).
8. Legal or contractual requirements for providing personal data
(1) We would like to inform you that the provision of personal data is sometimes required by law. It may also be necessary for a data subject to provide us with personal data in order for a contract to be performed. Failure to provide this data would mean that the contract could not be concluded. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding specific cases.
(2) The data we process will be erased or its processing restricted in accordance with Articles 17 and 18 of the GDPR. Unless expressly stated otherwise in this privacy policy, the data stored by us will be erased as soon as it is no longer required for its intended purpose and there are no legal obligations to retain it. If the data is not erased because it is required for other legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted. 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.
In accordance with legal requirements, records are retained for 10 years in particular pursuant to Section 147 Paragraph 1 AO, Section 257 Paragraph 1 No. 1 and 4, Paragraph 4 HGB (books, records, management reports, accounting documents, ledgers, tax-relevant documents, etc.) and for 6 years pursuant to Section 257 Paragraph 1 No. 2 and 3, Paragraph 4 HGB (commercial correspondence).
9. Web Analytics
1. Use of Google Analytics
(1) This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. ("Google"). Google Analytics uses "cookies," which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website will generally be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. However, if IP anonymization is activated on this website, your IP address will be shortened by Google beforehand within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity, and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage to the website operator.
(2) The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data.
(3) You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting your browser settings; however, please note that in this case you may not be able to fully utilize all the functions of this website. Furthermore, you can prevent Google from collecting and processing data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.
(4) This website uses Google Analytics with the extension "_anonymizeIp()". This extension shortens IP addresses before further processing, thus preventing them from being linked to a specific individual. Therefore, any personal data collected about you is immediately anonymized and thus promptly deleted. The data we send, which is linked to cookies, user identifiers (e.g., user ID), or advertising IDs, is automatically deleted after 14 months. Data whose retention period has expired is automatically deleted once a month.
(5) We use Google Analytics to analyze and regularly improve the use of our website. The statistics we gather allow us to improve our services and make them more interesting for you as a user. The legal basis for the use of Google Analytics is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR.
(6) Third-party provider information: Google Dublin, Google Ireland Ltd., Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, Fax: +353 (1) 436 1001. Terms of Service: https://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html, Privacy Overview: https://www.google.com/intl/de/analytics/learn/privacy.html, and the Privacy Policy: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy
(7) This website also uses Google Analytics for cross-device analysis of visitor traffic, which is carried out using a user ID. You can deactivate cross-device analysis of your usage in your customer account under "My Data," "Personal Data."
Opt-out cookies prevent the future collection of your data when you visit this website. To prevent collection by Universal Analytics across different devices, you must perform the opt-out on all systems used. Clicking here will set the opt-out cookie: Disable Google Analytics
10. YouTube and Google Maps
1. Einbindung von YouTube-Videos
(1) Wir haben YouTube-Videos in unser Online-Angebot eingebunden, die auf https://www.YouTube.com gespeichert sind und von unserer Website aus direkt abspielbar sind. Diese sind alle im „erweiterten Datenschutz-Modus“ eingebunden, d. h. dass keine Daten über Sie als Nutzer an YouTube übertragen werden, wenn Sie die Videos nicht abspielen. Erst wenn Sie die Videos abspielen, werden die in Absatz 2 genannten Daten übertragen. Auf diese Datenübertragung haben wir keinen Einfluss.
(2) Durch den Besuch auf der Website erhält YouTube die Information, dass Sie die entsprechende Unterseite unserer Website aufgerufen haben. Zudem werden die unter Ziffer 4 dieser Erklärung genannten Daten übermittelt. Dies erfolgt unabhängig davon, ob YouTube ein Nutzerkonto bereitstellt, über das Sie eingeloggt sind, oder ob kein Nutzerkonto besteht. Wenn Sie bei Google eingeloggt sind, werden Ihre Daten direkt Ihrem Konto zugeordnet. Wenn Sie die Zuordnung mit Ihrem Profil bei YouTube nicht wünschen, müssen Sie sich vor Aktivierung des Buttons ausloggen. YouTube speichert Ihre Daten als Nutzungsprofile und nutzt sie für Zwecke der Werbung, Marktforschung und/oder bedarfsgerechten Gestaltung seiner Website. Eine solche Auswertung erfolgt insbesondere (selbst für nicht eingeloggte Nutzer) zur Erbringung von bedarfsgerechter Werbung und um andere Nutzer des sozialen Netzwerks über Ihre Aktivitäten auf unserer Website zu informieren. Ihnen steht ein Widerspruchsrecht zu gegen die Bildung dieser Nutzerprofile, wobei Sie sich zur Ausübung dessen an YouTube richten müssen.
(3) Rechtsgrundlage ist Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. f) DSGVO (berechtigte Interessen) sowie Art. 6 Abs. 1 S. 1 lit. a) DSGVO (Einwilligung).
(4) Weitere Informationen zu Zweck und Umfang der Datenerhebung und ihrer Verarbeitung durch YouTube erhalten Sie in der Datenschutzerklärung. Dort erhalten Sie auch weitere Informationen zu Ihren Rechten und Einstellungsmöglichkeiten zum Schutze Ihrer Privatsphäre: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.
2. Einbindung von Google Maps
(1) Auf dieser Webseite nutzen wir das Angebot von Google Maps. Dadurch können wir Ihnen interaktive Karten direkt in der Website anzeigen und ermöglichen Ihnen die komfortable Nutzung der Karten-Funktion.
(2) By visiting our website, Google receives the information that you have accessed the corresponding subpage of our website. In addition, the data specified in section 4 of this declaration is transmitted. This occurs regardless of whether Google provides a user account through which you are logged in, or whether no user account exists. If you are logged in to Google, your data will be directly associated with your account. If you do not wish this association with your Google profile, you must log out before activating the button. Google stores your data as usage profiles and uses them for advertising, market research, and/or the needs-based design of its website. Such analysis is carried out in particular (even for users who are not logged in) to provide needs-based advertising and to inform other users of the social network about your activities on our website. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles, and you must contact Google to exercise this right. The legal basis is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interests) and Article 6(1)(a) GDPR (consent).
(3) Further information on the purpose and scope of data collection and its processing by the plug-in provider can be found in the provider's privacy policy. There you will also find further information on your rights and settings options to protect your privacy: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.
(4) You can opt out at: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
11. Plugins and Tools
1. Use of ajax.googleapis.com and jQuery
(1) On this page, we use Ajax and jQuery technologies to optimize loading speeds. For this purpose, program libraries are accessed from Google servers. Google's CDN (Content Delivery Network) is used. If you have previously used jQuery from the Google CDN on another website, your browser will access the cached copy. If this is not the case, a download is required, during which data is transmitted from your browser to Google Inc. ("Google"). Your data will be transferred to the USA. Further details can be found on the providers' websites.
(2) The legal basis for processing your data is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR.
2. Google Tag Manager
Google Tag Manager is a solution that allows us to manage website tags via a single interface (and thus integrate, for example, Google Analytics and other Google marketing services into our online offering). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) does not process any personal data of users. With regard to the processing of users' personal data, please refer to the following information on Google services. Terms of Use: https://www.google.com/intl/de/tagmanager/use-policy.html.
3. Newsletter
(1) With your consent, you can subscribe to our newsletter, which will inform you about our current special offers.
(2) We use the so-called double opt-in procedure for newsletter registration. This means that after you register, we will send an email to the email address you provided, asking you to confirm that you wish to receive the newsletter. If you do not confirm your registration within 24 hours, your information will be blocked and automatically deleted after one month. We also store your IP address, the computer system you used, and the times of registration and confirmation. The purpose of this procedure is to be able to verify your registration and, if necessary, investigate any potential misuse of your personal data.
(3) The personal data collected during newsletter registration will be used exclusively for sending our newsletter. Furthermore, newsletter subscribers may be informed by email if this is necessary for the operation of the newsletter service or for registration purposes, such as in the case of changes to the newsletter content or technical requirements. Personal data collected within the scope of the newsletter service will not be shared with third parties.
(4) The only mandatory information required for sending the newsletter is your email address. Providing other, separately marked data is voluntary and is used to personalize our communication with you. After your confirmation, we will store your email address for the purpose of sending the newsletter. The legal basis for this is Article 6 Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 Letter a GDPR.
(5) You can revoke your consent to receive the newsletter and unsubscribe at any time. You can submit your revocation to us via any communication channel, for example, by clicking on the link provided in every newsletter email, by email to info@gronard.de, or by contacting us using the contact details provided in the legal notice.
(6) Please note that we analyze your user behavior when sending the newsletter. For this analysis, the emails we send contain so-called web beacons or tracking pixels, which are single-pixel image files stored on our website. For evaluation purposes, we link the data mentioned in section 4 and the web beacons to your email address and a unique ID. You can object to this tracking at any time by clicking the separate link provided in each email or by contacting us via any other channel. The information is stored for as long as you are subscribed to the newsletter. After unsubscribing, we store the data purely for statistical and anonymous purposes. Such tracking is also not possible if you have disabled the display of images by default in your email program. In this case, the newsletter will not be displayed in its entirety, and you may not be able to use all of its features. If you manually enable the display of images, the aforementioned tracking will occur.
(7) Newsletter – Service Provider: The newsletter is sent via the service provider "MailChimp," a newsletter distribution platform of the US provider Rocket Science Group, LLC, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE #5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA. You can view the email service provider's privacy policy here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/ . The email service provider is used based on our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR and a data processing agreement pursuant to Art. 28 para. 3 sentence 1 GDPR. The email service provider may use the recipients' data in pseudonymized form, i.e., without linking it to a specific user, to optimize or improve its own services, e.g., for the technical optimization of email delivery and the display of newsletters, or for statistical purposes. However, the email service provider does not use the data of our newsletter recipients to contact them directly or to pass the data on to third parties.
4. Hotjar
(1) We use Hotjar from Hotjar Limited (Level 2, St Julian's Business Centre, 3, Elia Zammit Street, St Julian's STJ 1000, Malta) on our website to better understand the needs of our users and to optimize the offerings and user experience on this website.
(2) Hotjar's technology allows us to track movements (including mouse and scroll movements as well as clicks) on our website. For example, it shows how far users scroll and which buttons they click and how often. Hotjar uses this information to create heatmaps. These heatmaps allow us to see when our online offerings, their functions, or content are used most frequently. This information helps us identify areas that we should optimize. Furthermore, the tool allows us to gather feedback directly from website users. This provides us with valuable information to make our website more effective and user-friendly.
(3) Hotjar uses cookies and other technologies to collect data about our users' behavior and their devices, in particular the device's IP address (which is only collected and stored in anonymized form during your website use), screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), information about the browser used, location (country only), and preferred language for viewing our website. Hotjar stores this information on our behalf in a pseudonymized user profile and in a file (so-called cookies) or uses similar methods for the same purpose. Hotjar is contractually prohibited from selling the data collected on our behalf.
(4) Generally, when using Hotjar, no clear user data (such as names or email addresses) is stored, only pseudonyms. This means that neither we nor Hotjar know the actual identity of the users.
(5) The use of Hotjar and the storage of Hotjar cookies is based on the user's consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR. Otherwise, the data will be processed based on our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both its website and its advertising.
(6) If you wish to deactivate data collection by Hotjar, click on the following link and follow the instructions there: https://www.hotjar.com/opt-out Please note that Hotjar must be deactivated separately for each browser and each device.
(7) For more information about Hotjar and the data collected, please refer to Hotjar's privacy policy at the following link: https://www.hotjar.com/privacy
(8) We have, of course, concluded a data processing agreement with Hotjar to fully comply with the GDPR regulations.
5. Google reCAPTCHA
(1) To protect your form submissions, we use the reCAPTCHA service provided by Google Inc. (Google).
(2) This query serves to distinguish whether the input is made by a human or abusively by automated, machine processing. The query includes sending the IP address and, if applicable, other data required by Google for the reCAPTCHA service to Google. For this purpose, your input is transmitted to Google and further processed there.
(3) By using reCAPTCHA, you agree that the recognition you provide will be used in the digitization of old works. If IP anonymization is activated on this website, your IP address will be shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of this service.
(4) The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of reCAPTCHA will not be merged with other Google data. Google's separate privacy policy applies to this data. You can find more information about Google's privacy policy at: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/
(5) The legal basis for processing your data is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR.
6. VAT ID Validation
(1) As part of the registration process on our website, a VAT ID is checked and validated using data from the European Commission (https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/#/vat-validation). This service, established by the European Commission, aims to simplify matters for both businesses and tax authorities.
(2) The reason for this is that supplies of goods by a business in one Member State to a business in another Member State are exempt from VAT in the country of origin, as taxation takes place in the country of destination. However, a business making such supplies must be certain that its customer in the other Member State is subject to VAT. This information must be obtained before the goods are shipped VAT-free.
(3) The legal basis for this data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) or c) GDPR.