DATA PROTECTION

 

RIGHT TO DATA PORTABILITY

 

The data subject has the right to data portability.

 

 

EXISTENCE OF A RIGHT TO LODGE A COMPLAINT WITH THE SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY

 

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority.

 

 

PROVISION OF PERSONAL DATA

 

There is no legal obligation for you to provide personal data.

 

 

AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING INCLUDING PROFILING

 

Under certain circumstances, automated profiling may occur with the aim of evaluating personal aspects. We employ these profiling measures in the following cases:

Due to legal and regulatory requirements, we are obligated to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and asset-endangering offenses. Data evaluations, including comparisons with legally specified lists, are conducted as part of these efforts.

 

 

ANALYSIS TOOLS

 

We utilize cookies on our website. These are small files that your browser automatically creates and stores on your device (such as a laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our site. Cookies do not cause any harm to your device, nor do they contain viruses, trojans, or any other malicious software.

Cookies store information related to the specific device being used. However, this does not mean that we gain immediate knowledge of your identity.

The use of cookies serves several purposes. Firstly, we use session cookies to make your use of our services more enjoyable. These session cookies recognize that you have visited individual pages of our website and are automatically deleted after leaving our site.

Additionally, we use temporary cookies to optimize user-friendliness. These cookies are stored on your device for a specified period. When you revisit our site to use our services again, it is automatically recognized that you have previously visited, and your previous inputs and settings are remembered to prevent you from having to enter them again.

Furthermore, we use cookies to statistically analyze the usage of our website and to evaluate our offerings for optimization purposes (see Section 5). These cookies enable us to automatically recognize, upon revisiting our site, that you have been here before. These cookies are automatically deleted after a defined period.

The processing of data through cookies is necessary for the aforementioned purposes to safeguard our legitimate interests and those of third parties in accordance with Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. f GDPR.

While most browsers accept cookies automatically, you can configure your browser to prevent cookies from being stored on your computer or to receive a notification before a new cookie is created. However, disabling cookies entirely may result in you not being able to utilize all the functions of our website.

 

TRACKING TOOLS

 

The following tracking measures listed below are conducted based on Art. 6(1) sentence 1 lit. f GDPR. With these tracking measures, we aim to ensure a needs-based design and continuous optimization of our website. Additionally, we use tracking measures to statistically analyze the usage of our website and to evaluate our offerings for optimization purposes. These interests are considered legitimate within the meaning of the aforementioned provision.

The specific purposes of data processing and data categories can be found in the respective tracking tools.

I. Google Analytics

For the purpose of needs-based design and continuous optimization of our pages, we use Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. (https://www.google.com/intl/en/about/) (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter "Google"). In this context, pseudonymized usage profiles are created and cookies (see Section 4) are used. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website, such as:

• Browser type/version, • Operating system used, • Referrer URL (the previously visited page), • Hostname of the accessing computer (IP address), • Time of the server request,

is transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The information is used to evaluate the use of the website, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services related to website activity and internet usage for market research purposes and the needs-based design of these internet pages. Google may also transfer this information to third parties if required by law or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google. Under no circumstances will your IP address be merged with other data from Google. IP addresses are anonymized so that an assignment is not possible (IP masking).

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

Furthermore, Google offers an opt-out option for the most common browsers, which gives you more control over what data Google collects and processes. If you activate this option, no information about your website visit will be transmitted to Google Analytics. However, activation does not prevent information from being transmitted to us or to other web analytics services we may use. Further information about the opt-out option provided by Google and how to activate this option can be found at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

In addition to the browser add-on, especially for browsers on mobile devices, you can also prevent Google Analytics from collecting data by clicking on this link. An opt-out cookie will be set to prevent future collection of your data when you visit this website. The opt-out cookie is only valid in this browser and only for our website and is stored on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you will need to set the opt-out cookie again.

II. Google Adwords Conversion Tracking

To statistically record the usage of our website and evaluate it for optimization purposes, we also use Google Conversion Tracking. In this process, Google Adwords sets a cookie (see Section 4) on your computer if you have reached our website via a Google ad.

These cookies expire after 30 days and do not serve for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages of the Adwords customer's website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and the customer can recognize that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to that page.

Each Adwords customer receives a different cookie. Cookies cannot therefore be tracked across Adwords customer websites. The information collected through the conversion cookie is used to create conversion statistics for Adwords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. Adwords customers are informed of the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that personally identifies users.

If you do not wish to participate in the tracking process, you can also decline the setting of a cookie required for this purpose – for example, via browser settings that generally deactivate the automatic setting of cookies. You can also deactivate cookies for conversion tracking by adjusting your browser settings to block cookies from the domain "www.googleadservices.com." Google's privacy policy for conversion tracking can be found here: https://services.google.com/sitestats/en.html.

III. Matomo (formerly Piwik)

We use the open-source software Matomo for the analysis and statistical evaluation of website usage. For this purpose, cookies are used (see Section 4). The information generated by the cookie about website usage is transmitted to our servers and summarized in pseudonymous usage profiles. The information is used to evaluate website usage and to enable a needs-based design of our website. The information is not shared with third parties.

Under no circumstances is the IP address associated with other user-related data. IP addresses are anonymized, so that no assignment is possible (IP masking).

Your visit to this website is currently being recorded by the Matomo web analytics. Click here (https://matomo.org/docs/privacy/) to stop your visit from being recorded.

IV. Use of reCAPTCHA

To protect input forms on our site, we use the "reCAPTCHA" service from Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, hereinafter referred to as "Google." By using this service, it can be determined whether the corresponding input is of human origin or is being fraudulently performed by automated machine processing.

To the best of our knowledge, the referrer URL, IP address, website visitor behavior, information about operating system, browser, and length of stay, cookies, display instructions and scripts, user input behavior, and mouse movements within the "reCAPTCHA" checkbox are transmitted to "Google."

Google uses the information obtained through "reCAPTCHA" to digitize books and other printed materials, as well as to optimize services such as Google Street View and Google Maps (e.g., recognition of house numbers and street names).

The IP address transmitted as part of "reCAPTCHA" is not merged with other data from Google unless you are logged into your Google account at the time of using the "reCAPTCHA" plug-in. If you do not want "Google" to collect and store data about you and your behavior on our website, you must log out of "Google" before visiting our site or using the reCAPTCHA plug-in.

The information obtained through the use of the "reCAPTCHA" service is subject to Google's terms of use: https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/.

V. VG WORT

We use the so-called "count pixel" of the VG WORT in the form of the SZM ("Scalable Central Measuring Method") provided by the provider INFOnline GmbH (INFOnline GmbH, Forum Bonn Nord, Brühler Str. 9, 53119 Bonn) for the determination of statistical parameters regarding the probability of copying texts.

The data obtained in this way is collected anonymously. To recognize visitors to our website, access statistics use either a so-called session cookie or a signature created from various automatically transmitted information from your browser. The IP address is only processed in anonymized form. Individual users are never identified at any time. This process is used to determine the probability of copying individual texts.

 

VI. wordpress.com STATS

We use the Jetpack component from Automattic Inc., 132 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States of America, using technology from Quantcast Corp., 201 Third Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States of America. Every time you visit our site, data for web analysis is collected and stored in the USA using cookies. Cookies are small text files stored locally in the cache of the visitor's internet browser, allowing recognition of the visitor's internet browser. The IP address is immediately anonymized after processing but before it is stored. You can prevent the installation of cookies by adjusting your browser settings accordingly or by deleting already stored cookies; however, please note that in this case, you may not be able to use all functions of our website to their full extent.

The collection and use of data by the Jetpack component can be objected to with effect for the future by setting an opt-out cookie in your browser via the following link: http://www.quantcast.com/opt-out. If you delete all cookies from your browser, you must repeat the process.

Youtube Videos

We embed Youtube videos on some of our web pages. The operator of the corresponding plugins is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. When you visit a page with the YouTube plugin, a connection to YouTube servers is established. YouTube is informed about which pages you visit. If you are logged into your YouTube account, YouTube can assign your surfing behavior directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account before visiting our website.

When a YouTube video is started, the provider uses cookies that collect information about user behavior.

If you have disabled the storage of cookies for the Google Ad program, you will not have to expect such cookies when watching YouTube videos. However, YouTube also stores non-personal usage information in other cookies. If you want to prevent this, you must block the storage of cookies in your browser.

For more information on data protection at "YouTube," please refer to the provider's privacy policy at: https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/.

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA PLUGINS

 

We use social plugins from the social networks Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram on our website based on Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR to make our law firm better known. The underlying promotional purpose is to be considered a legitimate interest within the meaning of the GDPR. The responsibility for the data protection-compliant operation lies with their respective providers. We integrate these plugins using the so-called two-click method to best protect visitors to our website.

 

I. Facebook

Social media plugins from Facebook are used on our website to personalize their use. For this purpose, we use the "LIKE" or "SHARE" button. This is an offer from Facebook.

When you visit a page of our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to Facebook's servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted directly to your browser by Facebook and integrated into the website.

By integrating the plugins, Facebook receives the information that your browser has accessed the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a Facebook account or are not currently logged in to Facebook. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to a Facebook server in the USA and stored there.

If you are logged in to Facebook, Facebook can directly associate your visit to our website with your Facebook account. If you interact with the plugins, for example by clicking the "LIKE" or "SHARE" button, the corresponding information is also transmitted directly to a Facebook server and stored there. The information is also published on Facebook and displayed to your Facebook friends.

Facebook may use this information for the purposes of advertising, market research, and the design of Facebook pages tailored to your needs. For this purpose, Facebook creates usage, interest, and relationship profiles, e.g. to evaluate your use of our website with regard to the advertisements displayed to you on Facebook, to inform other Facebook users about your activities on our website, and to provide further services related to the use of Facebook.

If you do not want Facebook to associate the data collected via our website with your Facebook account, you must log out of Facebook before visiting our website.

For the purpose and scope of data collection and the further processing and use of data by Facebook, as well as your rights and settings options for protecting your privacy, please refer to Facebook's privacy policy (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/).

II. Twitter

Plugins from the short message network of Twitter Inc. (Twitter) are integrated into our Internet pages. You can recognize the Twitter plugins (tweet button) by the Twitter logo on our site. An overview of tweet buttons can be found here (https://about.twitter.com/resources/buttons).

When you visit a page of our website that contains such a plugin, a direct connection is established between your browser and the Twitter server. Twitter receives the information that you have visited our site with your IP address. If you click on the Twitter "tweet" button while logged into your Twitter account, you can link the contents of our pages to your Twitter profile. This allows Twitter to associate your visit to our pages with your user account. We would like to point out that, as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Twitter.

If you do not want Twitter to associate your visit to our pages, please log out of your Twitter account.

Further information can be found in Twitter's privacy policy (https://twitter.com/privacy).

III. Instagram

Our website also uses so-called social plugins ("plugins") from Instagram, which is operated by Instagram LLC, 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA ("Instagram").

The plugins are marked with an Instagram logo, for example in the form of an "Instagram camera".

When you visit a page of our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to Instagram's servers. Instagram sends the content of the plugin directly to your browser and integrates it into the page. Through this integration, Instagram receives information that your browser has accessed the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have an Instagram profile or are not currently logged in to Instagram.

This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to an Instagram server in the USA and stored there. If you are logged in to Instagram, Instagram can directly associate your visit to our website with your Instagram account. If you interact with the plugins, for example by pressing the "Instagram" button, this information is also transmitted directly to an Instagram server and stored there.

The information is also published to your Instagram account and displayed to your contacts there.

If you do not want Instagram to directly associate the data collected through our website with your Instagram account, you must log out of Instagram before visiting our website.

For more information, please refer to Instagram's privacy policy (https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388).

IV. Pinterest

Our website contains the "Pin it" button of the social network Pinterest, which is operated by Pinterest, Inc. – located at 808 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. Due to the use of the "Pin it" button, Pinterest receives information that you have visited one of our web pages. If you are logged in to your Pinterest account during this time, Pinterest can also assign your visit to our pages to your Pinterest account. By clicking the "Pin it" button, data is transmitted to Pinterest and stored on servers (in the USA). If you wish to prevent this, you must log out of your Pinterest account before clicking the "Pin it" button. For more information on data collection and processing and use of your data by Pinterest as well as your legal options and privacy settings, please refer to Pinterest's privacy policy at: http://pinterest.com/about/privacy/.

V. Privacy Policy Google Maps

This website uses the Google Maps product from Google Inc. By using this website, you consent to the collection, processing, and use of data automatically collected by Google Inc, its representatives, and third parties.

The use of "Google Maps" and the information obtained through "Google Maps" is subject to Google's terms of use

http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/regional.html

and the additional terms and conditions for "Google Maps"

https://www.google.com/intl/en/help/terms_maps.html.

VI. Xing

We use components of the XING.com network on our site. These components are a service of XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.

Each time one of our pages containing such components is accessed, this component causes the browser you are using to download a display of the corresponding component from XING.

To the best of our knowledge, XING does not store any personal data of the user when our website is accessed. XING also does not store IP addresses. Nor is any evaluation of usage behavior carried out using cookies in connection with the "XING Share button." Further information on this can be found in the data protection provisions for the XING Share button at: https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection

VII. LinkedIn

We use components of the LinkedIn network on our site. LinkedIn is a service of LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Each time one of our pages containing such components is accessed, this component causes the browser you are using to download a corresponding display of the LinkedIn component