The following information explains how we and our authorized partners (e.g. web host) process your personal data (your name, email address, etc.) when using our website.

The protection of your privacy is very important to us. In general, personal data collected from our website is only processed when it is required to ensure the functionality, the content or the services offered on our website.

Each time our website is accessed, automated data (so-called server log files) about your visit is collected («access data»). This data includes, in particular:

• name and URL of the accessed website
• date and time of access
• IP address
• browser type and browser version
• operating system
• referrer URL (i.e. the website from which you were linked to our website)

Access data is processed for the sole purpose of ensuring the functionality, security and optimization of our website. Access data is deleted as soon as it no longer needs to be retained for the original purpose for which it was collected (generally after 10 to 30 days).

We use cookies on our website to render it more user-friendly. Cookies are small data files which the website or its server stores on your computer’s browser during your visit in order to recognize it at future visits. Cookies are used, for example, to present complex and dynamic contents so that you will be recognized the next time you visit our website or to improve user-friendliness. Cookies are deleted immediately after closing your browser or automatically removed from your computer’s hard drive after a certain period of time.

By changing your browser’s settings, you can block cookies at any time or have a warning displayed before accepting a cookie so that you are able to decide for yourself whether or not you want to allow it. Cookies previously stored on your computer can be deleted at any time. The following sites provide instructions on how to manage cookies, depending on your browser:

• Microsoft's Windows Internet Explorer
• Microsoft's Windows Internet Explorer Mobile
• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome Desktop
• Google Chrome Mobile
• Apple Safari Desktop
• Apple Safari Mobile
• Opera

Basically, our website can also be used without accepting cookies. However, the blocking of cookies may result in you being unable to use some parts of our website or only to a limited extent. By using our website without previously blocking the cookies, you consent to the aforementioned use of cookies.

You have the option of subscribing to newsletters on our website. The personal data (login information) provided by you when subscribing to the newsletter is transmitted to us and stored. Your login information is used solely for the sending of the newsletter to which you have subscribed. You may withdraw your consent to receive the newsletter at any time and cancel your subscription by contacting the publisher of the respective newsletter.

When you contact us via email or by means of an online form, the data is transmitted to and stored by the intended recipient for further internal processing. The information, which you have provided on a voluntary basis (e. g. name, email address, telephone number, query), is used only by the departments and persons internally responsible for processing your request. Transferring data to third parties only occurs on the basis of statutory authorization or upon receipt of your explicit consent.

Please note that there is no secured or encrypted transmission of data when communicating via email or, in some instances, when using our contact form. This means that your data may be lost while being sent or could be accessed by unauthorized third parties. Therefore, any contact made via online forms or email is at your own risk, and in this regard, we assume no responsibility and are not liable for any claims asserted.

When contacting us by means of an online form or via email, you explicitly agree to the processing of your data as described above.

When visiting our website, you also consent to the processing of your data as described below.

YouTube

We occasionally integrate plug-ins from YouTube (YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA; subsidiary of Google, Inc.) into our website. When you access one of our pages on which a YouTube video is used, a connection to the YouTube servers is established, notifying YouTube which page is being visited by which IP address. If you are using a YouTube account at the same time, YouTube can correlate this information directly with your personal account. You can find further information on how Google deals with user data in the Google Privacy Policy.

Google Maps

Our website occasionally uses the Google Maps service via an API provided by Google, Inc. (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA) for presenting an interactive map and creating location maps. When using Google Maps, information about your use (e. g. IP address) can be transmitted to and stored by Google on a server in the United States. You can find further information on how Google deals with user data in the Google Privacy Policy.

Social Media Wall

We have our own profiles on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. In order to display these profiles or their entries on our website, we have set up a so-called social media wall which is only activated when you click on it or with your consent. After it has been activated, your IP address is forwarded to the Facebook or Twitter server. If you are using a Facebook or Twitter account at the same time, this information can be directly correlated with your personal account. In order that your information is not automatically transmitted when you access our website, we have deliberately chosen not to use plug-ins (e.g. from Twitter or Facebook).

Google Analytics

Our website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. Google Analytics uses cookies to help analyse how users use our website. Information generated by the cookie about your use of our website is transmitted to and stored by Google on a server in the United States, after being anonymized beforehand with the anonymizeip method. Due to the anonymization, the transmitted information can no longer be traced back to the connection (especially your IP address).

Google uses this information, in particular, for compiling reports about website activities for website operators and providing further services related to website and internet usage.

You can block the future collection of your data by Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

You have the right at all times to be provided with the information free of charge concerning the processing of your personal information. You may contact the department listed in the site notice. Additional rights such as the right to data deletion, data correction, limitations on data processing and the right to data transmission exist within the framework prescribed by law.

Collecting data for maintaining our website and storing data in log files is absolutely necessary for operating our website. As a result, there is no right of appeal in this respect on the part of our website users.

August, 2018