Privacy Policy


Data Privacy Policy


Our website may be used without entering personal information. Different rules may apply to certain services on our site, however, and are explained separately below. We collect personal information from you (e.g. name, address, email address, telephone number, etc.) in accordance with the provisions of German data protection statutes. Information is considered personal if it can be associated exclusively to a specific natural person. The legal framework for data protection may be found in the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the Telemedia Act (TMG). The provisions below serve to provide information as to the manner, extent and purpose for collecting, using and processing personal information by the provider.


[Provider’s name and address] [Provider’s telephone number] [Provider’s email address]


Please be aware that data transfer via the internet is subject to security risks and, therefore, complete protection against third-party access to transferred data cannot be ensured.


Cookies


Our website makes use of so-called cookies in order to recognize repeat use of our website by the same user/internet connection subscriber. Cookies are small text files that your internet browser downloads and stores on your computer. They are used to improve our website and services. In most cases these are so-called "session cookies" that are deleted once you leave our website.


To an extent, however, these cookies also pass along information used to automatically recognize you. Recognition occurs through an IP address saved to the cookies. The information thereby obtained is used to improve our services and to expedite your access to the website.


You can prevent cookies from being installed by adjusting the settings on your browser software accordingly. You should be aware, however, that by doing so you may not be able to make full use of all the functions of our website.


Server Data


For technical reasons, data such as the following, which your internet browser transmits to us or to our web space provider (so called server log files), is collected: - type and version of the browser you use - operating system - websites that linked you to our site (referrer URL) - websites that you visit - date and time of your visit - your Internet Protocol (IP) address. This anonymous data is stored separately from any personal information you may have provided, thereby making it impossible to connect it to any particular person. The data is used for statistical purposes in order to improve our website and services.


Contacting Us


On our website we offer you the opportunity to contact us, either by email and/or by using a contact form. In such event, information provided by the user is stored for the purpose of facilitating communications with the user. No data is transferred to third parties. Nor is any of this information matched to any information that may be collected by other components of our website.


Posting Comments


On our website we offer you the opportunity to post comments about individual articles. For this purpose, the IP address of the user/internet connection subscriber is stored. This information is stored for our security in the event the author through his/her comments infringes against third party rights and/or unlawful content is entered. Consequently, we have a direct interest in the author’s stored data, particularly since we may be potentially liable for such violations. No data is transferred to third parties. Nor is any of this information matched to any information that may be collected by other components of our website.


Use of Google Analytics with anonymization


Our website uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service from Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, hereinafter referred to as “Google“. Google Analytics employs so-called “cookies“, text files that are stored to your computer in order to facilitate an analysis of your use of the site.


The information generated by these cookies, such as time, place and frequency of your visits to our site, including your IP address, is transmitted to Google’s location in the US and stored there.


We use Google Analytics with an IP anonymization feature on our website. In doing so, Google abbreviates and thereby anonymizes your IP address before transferring it from member states of the European Union or signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.


Google will use this information to evaluate your usage of our site, to compile reports on website activity for us, and to provide other services related to website- and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties if this is required by law or to the extent this data is processed by third parties on Google´s behalf.


Google states that it will in never associate your IP address with other data held by Google. You can prevent cookies from being installed by adjusting the settings on your browser software accordingly. You should be aware, however, that by doing so you may not be able to make full use of all the functions of our website.


Google also offers a disabling option for the most common browsers, thus providing you with greater control over the data which is collected and processed by Google. If you enable this option, no information regarding your website visit is transmitted to Google Analytics. However, the activation does not prevent the transmission of information to us or to any other web analytics services we may use. For more information about the disabling option provided by Google, and how to enable this option, visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en


Use of Google+ recommendation components


Our website employs the “+1“-buttom from Google+ belonging to Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, hereinafter referred to as “Google“. Each time our website receives an access request equipped with a “+1“ component, the component prompts your browser to download an image of this component from Google. Through this process, Google is informed precisely which page of our website is being visited.  As specified by Google, your visit undergoes additional analysis in the event you are not logged into your Google account.  If you access our site while logged into Google and press the “+1" button, Google can collect information about your Google account, websites you recommend as well as your IP address, along with other browser-related information.  This allows your “+1“ recommendation to be stored and publicized. Your Google “+1“ recommendation can then appear as a reference in other Google services, such as search results, your Google account or other places, such as on websites and ads in the internet, , together with your account name and, if applicable, a picture you provided to Google. Furthermore, Google can link your visit to our site with data stored by Google. Google also records this information for the purpose of further improving Google services. If you wish to minimize the collection of information by Google as previously described, you must log out of your Google account before visiting our website.

You can access Google‘s data protection policies relating to the “+1“ button together with all relevant information on the collection, transfer and use of data by Google, your rights in this regard as well as your profile settings options at the following link:

 https://developers.google.com/+/web/buttons-policy


The use of Google Maps with recommendation components


We use the “Google Maps” component on our website in combination with the so-called “Share function". “Google Maps” is a service of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, hereinafter “Google.”


Each time this component is called up, Google sets a cookie in order to process the user configuration and data when the page with the integrated “Google Maps” component is displayed. As a general rule, this cookie is not deleted by closing the browser, but rather expires after a certain time, as long as it is not previously manually deleted by you.


If you do not agree with this processing of your data, you may choose to deactivate the “Google Maps” service and thereby prevent the transfer of data to Google. To do this, you must deactivate the Java Script function in your browser. However, we would like to point out that in this case you will not be able to use “Google Maps” or at least only to a limited extent.


The use of “Google Maps” and the information obtained through “Google Maps” is according to Google’s Terms of Use 
http://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/terms/regional.html


as well as the additional Terms and Conditions for "Google Maps"
https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/help/terms_maps.html


The Google Maps function also includes the following recommendation buttons:


  • “Google+-Button” from the company Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA;
  • “Facebook-Button” from the company Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA;
  • “Twitter-Button” from the company Twitter Inc., 795 Folsom St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA.


By calling up the “Google Maps” page, these “Recommendation components” cause the browser you are using to download a corresponding display of the component from the respective provider. In this way, the respective provider mentioned above will be informed about which specific page of our internet site you are currently visiting.


If you are logged in to your personal account at the provider previously mentioned at the time of calling up the “Google Maps” page, this will be able to collect the information obtained about the websites recommended by you as well as your IP address and other browser relevant information and link it to your respective account.


If you want to prevent this transmission and storage of data by the respective provider about you and your behaviour on our website, you must log out of those providers before you visit our site.


You can find out more about the data collection of the respective providers via the following links:


Privacy Policy Twitter: https://twitter.com/privacy?lang=de
Privacy Policy Facebook: https://de-en.facebook.com/about/privacy
Privacy Policy Google+: https://developers.google.com/+/web/buttons-policy


Use of Google Maps


We use the “Google Maps” component of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, hereinafter “Google.”


Google sets a cookie in order to process the user configuration and data when the page with the integrated “Google Maps” component is displayed. As a general rule, this cookie is not deleted by closing the browser, but rather expires after a certain time, as long as it is not previously manually deleted by you.


If you do not agree with this processing of your data, you may choose to deactivate the “Google Maps” service and thereby prevent the transfer of data to Google. To do this, you must deactivate the Java Script function in your browser. However, we would like to point out that in this case you will not be able to use “Google Maps” or at least only to a limited extent.


The use of “Google Maps” and the information obtained through “Google Maps” is according to Google’s Terms of Use 


http://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/terms/regional.html


as well as the additional Terms and Conditions for "Google Maps"


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


Using PayPal as a payment method


If, while completing your order, you decide to use PayPal as an online payment service, your contact details will be sent to PayPal during the order process. PayPal is a service from PayPal (Europe) S.à.rl & Cie. SCA, 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg. PayPal assumes the function of an online payment service and trustee, and offers buyer protection services.


The personal data transmitted to PayPal usually includes your first name, last name, address, telephone number, IP address, e-mail address, or other data required to process your order, such as the quantity of articles ordered, the article number, invoice amount, percentage taxes and invoice details, etc.


This information needs to be transferred to process your order using your chosen payment method, mainly in order to confirm your identity and manage your payment and the customer relationship.


Please note the following however: PayPal may also pass on your personal data to subcontractors or other affiliates, to the extent necessary for fulfilling the contractual obligations arising from your order or for processing personal data in your order.


Depending on the payment type you pre-select in your PayPal account, which may include payment by invoice or direct debit, PayPal will transfer the personal data transferred to PayPal to credit agencies. The information transferred serves to identify you and to verify your creditworthiness with regard to the order you have placed. Please refer to the PayPal Privacy Policy for more information on the credit agencies PayPal transfers data to and which data is collected, processed, stored and passed on by PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full


Using Direct Transfer as a payment method


If, while completing your order, you decide to use Direct Transfer as an online payment service, your contact details will be sent to Direct Transfer during the order process. Direct Transfer is a service from SOFORT GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339 Munich, Germany. Direct Transfer takes over the function of an online payment service provider, and allows you to make cashless payments for products and services over the Internet.


The personally identifiable information sent when you make a Direct Transfer usually comprises your first name, last name, address, telephone number, IP address, e-mail address, or other data required for processing your order, including the number of articles ordered, the article number, the invoice amount, percentage taxes and invoice details etc.


This information needs to be transferred to process your order using your chosen payment method, mainly in order to confirm your identity and manage your payment and the customer relationship.


Please note the following however: Direct Transfer may also pass on your personal data to subcontractors or other affiliates, to the extent necessary for fulfilling the contractual obligations arising from your order or for processing the personal data in your order.


In some circumstances, Direct Transfer may transfer to credit agencies the personal data which has been transferred to Direct Transfer. The information transferred serves to identify you and to verify your creditworthiness with regard to the order you have placed.


Please refer to the Privacy Policy displayed during the Direct Transfer payment process to find out which data protection principles Direct Transfer applies when processing your data.


If you have any further questions regarding the use of your personal data, please contact Direct Transfer by e-mail (datenschutz@sofort.com) or in writing (SOFORT GmbH, Datenschutz, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339 Munich, Germany).


Use of Klarna payment services


If during the ordering process you opt to make payment by using Klarna Invoice or Klarna Account, offered by Klarna AB, Registered Office Sveavägen 46, 111 34 Stockholm, Sweden, you consent that we will collect and transmit to Klarna AB the necessary personal information for the processing of a purchase on account and the information required for the carrying out of identity and creditworthiness checks. 


This information particularly comprises first name and surname, title, address, date of birth, gender, e-mail address, IP address, telephone number and mobile telephone number. It also includes data necessary for the processing of a purchase on account and data associated with the order such as number of articles, invoice amount and taxes in percent, invoice information, bank details, card number, validity date, CCV code, information on goods and services, historical information, information on your previous purchases, payment history, any rejections you may have received, financial information, information on any credit commitments or payment injunctions that may exist, information on the interaction between you and the Klarna Checkout, page loading times, download errors and methods used to leave the page displayed, information on electronic communication, confirmations of receipt, device information, geographical information. 


The transmission of such data is necessary in order to process your purchase using your preferred method of purchase on account. It is particularly required for the purposes of confirmation of your identity, administration of your payment and customer relations, customer analysis, administration of Klarna’s services and internal processes, including rectification of malfunctions, data analyses, internal tests, development, statistical purposes, improvement of the services provided by Klarna, ensuring that the necessary information for you and your device is displayed as effectively as possible, avoidance of misuse or improper use of the services provided by Klarna, within the scope of the endeavours undertaken by Klarna to structure its services in as secure a manner as possible, in order to evaluate which payment methods we are able to make available to you via Klarna, the execution of internal credit assessments, the implementation of risk analyses and risk management, business development and the pursuit of applicable law. Klarna has a justified interest in the transmission of the personal data of customers and requires such data in order to obtain information from credit reference agencies for the purpose of identity and creditworthiness checks. In Germany, the data stated above may be passed onto the following credit reference agencies.


  • Arvato Infoscore Consumer Data GmbH und Infoscore Consumer Data GmbH, Rheinstraße 99, 76532 Baden-Baden
  • Bürgel Wirtschaftsinformationen GmbH & Co. KG, P.O. Box 5001 66, 22701 Hamburg
  • Creditreform Boniversum GmbH, Hellersbergstraße 11, 41460 Neuss
  • Deltavista GmbH, Freisinger Landstr. 74 80939 Munich
  • SCHUFA Holding AG, Kormoranweg 5, 65201 Wiesbaden


Klarna may also make your personal data available to other companies within the Klarna Group and to service providers and subcontractors insofar as this is necessary for the fulfilment of contractual relations with you or with these organisations. 


Within the scope of deciding upon the establishment, implementation or termination of the contractual relationship, Klarna collects and uses information on the payment history of the customer and probability values relating to future payment behaviour. Klarna conducts the calculation of this scoring on the basis of scientifically recognised mathematical and statistical procedures. 


You may withdraw consent for the use of your personal data by Klarna at any time. Notwithstanding this, Klarna may remain entitled to process, use and transmit personal data in certain circumstances insofar as this is necessary for the contractual processing of payments by Klarna’s services, is legally stipulated or is required by a court or government authority. 


Further information on data protection is also available from Klarna directly:


Datenschutzerklärung der Klarna AB


You may obtain information on your personal data stored by Klarna at any time by contacting Datenschutz@klarna.de


Information/Cancellation/Deletion


On the basis of the Federal Data Protection Act, you may contact us at no cost if you have questions relating to the collection, processing or use of your personal information, if you wish to request the correction, blocking or deletion of the same, or if you wish to cancel explicitly granted consent. Please note that you have the right to have incorrect data corrected or to have personal data deleted, where such claim is not barred by any legal obligation to retain this data.


Sample Data Privacy Policy Statement provided by the Law Offices of Weiß & Partner