Cookie Notices

A. General

In providing our website, we use cookies and other technologies.

In the following cookie notices, which supplement our Data Protection Declaration , we provide you - as a user of our website - with additional information on data processing via the use of cookies and other technologies.

I. What are cookies and other technologies?

Cookies are small text files that a web server can store and read on your end device (computer, smartphone or similar) by means of the web browser that you use. Cookies contain individual, alphanumeric character strings that enable identification of the web browser that you are using and may also contain information on user-specific settings.

In addition to cookies, we use other technologies as follows:

  • Using so-called " local storage technology ", data is only stored locally, i.e. solely on your end device and not on the web server, in the so-called "local storage" of your web browser. In contrast to cookies, data stored using local storage technology does not possess an expiry date and is not automatically erased without further action; you can, however, erase this data yourself via your web browser. Please refer to the instructions of your web browser manufacturer on how to erase data stored using local storage technology.

  • In addition, we have integrated so-called tracking pixels (also called "pixels", "pixel tags" or "web beacons") on our website. Tracking pixels are small, usually invisible, image files that are automatically loaded by a web server and can provide information about your web browser or end device as well as your use of our website. This information can in turn be used to create a profile that is recognised when you visit our website again.

The aforementioned cookies and other technologies are hereinafter collectively referred to as "cookies".

II. What types of cookies and other technologies exist?

We distinguish between essential cookies on the one hand and optional cookies on the other:

  • Essential cookies are those that are technically necessary for the functionality as well as for ensuring the security and stability of our website and information technology systems. We also assign to this category those cookies that store certain settings that you have made, options selected or information entered until you close your web browser (at the latest), in order to provide the desired function that you have requested (e.g. login status, language setting etc.). Your consent is not required to store or read essential cookies. You cannot, therefore, manage essential cookies via the settings of the consent management service that we use, but only via your web browser and erase cookies stored there or block storage of cookies.

  • Optional cookies are those that are not essential for functionality nor to ensure the security and stability of our website and information technology systems, but are used for analysis or marketing purposes. These cookies can, for example, be used to compile anonymous statistics and collect information on how you use our website, which enables us to analyse the use of our website and thereby optimise it. We also assign to this category those cookies that store certain settings that you have made, options selected or information entered; these remain after you have closed your web browser in order to provide the desired function that you have requested (e.g. login status by selecting "Remember my e-mail address", wishlist, comparison list etc.) over a longer term. To store or read optional cookies, your prior consent is generally required. You can consent to the use of optional cookies and withdraw any consent that you have granted at any time with future effect via the settings of the consent management service that we use.

Both essential and optional cookies may be so-called "session cookies" or "persistent cookies", which differ in their intended lifetime or functional life:

  • Session cookies are stored on your end device and are automatically erased when you close your web browser.

  • Persistent cookies (or permanent cookies) are stored on your end device and are not automatically erased when you close your web browser, but remain on your end device for a predefined period of time.

  • Data stored using local storage technology does not have an expiry date and therefore has unlimited functional life.

Note: You can generally erase cookies and data stored using local storage technology yourself via your web browser. For details, please refer to the instructions of your web browser manufacturer.

B. Use of cookies on our website

I. Essential Cookies

1. Which essential cookies are used for what purpose and for how long?

Tabella a scorrimento
Service Purpose Service provider Functional life
Usercentrics Consent Management Platform Consent management Usercentrics GmbH,
Sendlinger Straße 7,
D-80331 München
unlimited
Cloudflare Security and stability Cloudflare, Inc.,
101 Townsend St,
San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
30 days
Load Balancer Security and stability - Until your web browser is closed
Language detection Language detection for user-specific language display of the website - Until your web browser is closed

In order for you to manage the use of optional cookies on our website, we have implemented a consent management service. Via the consent management service, the first time you access our website, you will be presented with a previously defined query ("Cookies, other technologies and miscellaneous services"), which allows you to accept or decline the use of optional cookies by clicking the appropriate button. In addition, clicking on " settings " will take you to the settings of the consent management service, where you will find inter alia a simplified cookie list, classified by type. With the consent management service you can inter alia find out about the purposes of the cookies that we use, the data processed in each case as well as any data recipients and, in the case of optional cookies, you can give or withdraw your consent at any time by selecting or deselecting the relevant box.

Please note that essential cookies are already stored upon accessing our website and that the relevant box is preselected. It is not possible to deselect essential cookies via the consent management service. The functionality of the consent management service itself requires the use of certain cookies.

Service provider information:
Usercentrics GmbH, Sendlinger Straße 7, D-80331 München

Usercentrics website:
https://usercentrics.com

General Terms and Conditions of Use for Usercentrics software:
https://usercentrics.com/terms-and-conditions/

Usercentrics Privacy Policy:
https://usercentrics.com/privacy-policy/

  • Security and stability

To optimise the loading times of our website, we use a so-called "Content Delivery Network" (hereinafter "CDN"). A CDN is a network of geographically distributed servers connected via the Internet that can be used to deliver web content faster and more securely. Within the CDN, personal data is transferred to various countries; transfer to countries outside the EU or the EEA, so-called "third countries" takes place in compliance with the conditions laid down in Chapter V of the GDPR.

Service provider information:
Cloudflare, Inc., 101 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA

Representative in the European Union:
Cloudflare Portugal, Unipessoal Lda., Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 29, 1200-369 Lisboa, Portugal

Cloudflare website:
https://www.cloudflare.com

Cloudflare Privacy Policy:
https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/

For load distribution we use a so-called "load balancer". With a load balancer, web requests are sent to a load balancing server, which in turn redirects the web request to an internal server. To avoid being routed back and forth between different servers within a session and to ensure uniform processing, your web requests are forwarded to the same server. To identify that server and to ensure correct redirection, we use a session cookie.

  • Language detection

We use a session cookie to enable user-specific language display of our website. In so doing, the language of your web browser will be detected and our website displayed for you in the same language.

2. On which legal basis are essential cookies used?

In order to be able to demonstrate that - or whether - you have consented to the use of optional cookies requiring your consent, we store the information about your consent, whether given or not, in order to fulfil our legal obligation to provide evidence in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (c) and Art. 6 (3) (a) GDPR in conjunction with Art. 7 (1) GDPR.

Furthermore, we use essential cookies for the purposes of legitimate interests in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

Our legitimate interests are:

  • Ensuring the security and stability of our website and information technology systems, for example by protecting against attacks in the form of targeted server overloads (Denial of Service attacks) or by using optimal load distribution on servers

  • Asserting, exercising and defending legal claims

  • Providing and guaranteeing the proper functionalities of our website

3. How can I object to the use of essential cookies?

You can exercise your right to object by means of the blocking options described under point C. (cf. Art. 21 (5) GDPR), i.e. by blocking essential cookies via your web browser settings.

Please note that if you erase without blocking, essential cookies will be set once again when you access our website at a later date. Please also note that deactivating or erasing or blocking essential cookies may affect the performance and functionality of our website and may cause certain features and functions to be unavailable.

II. Optional Cookies

Using the following information, we would like to enable you to make a well-founded decision for or against the use of optional cookies and the associated data processing.

1. Which optional cookies are used for what purpose and for how long?

Tabella a scorrimento
Service Purpose Service provider Functional life
Google Analytics Web analysis Google LLC,
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway,
Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
Up to two years
Google Ads Conversion Tracking Marketing Google Ireland Limited,
Gordon House, Barrow Street,
Dublin 4, Ireland
Up to two years
Google Ads Remarketing Marketing Google Ireland Limited,
Gordon House, Barrow Street,
Dublin 4, Ireland
Up to two years
Google Ad Manager Marketing Google Ireland Limited,
Gordon House, Barrow Street,
Dublin 4, Ireland
Up to two years
  • Web analysis

Subject to your consent, we use web analysis cookies in order to analyse the use of our website and thereby be able to improve it continuously. The anonymised user statistics obtained (e.g. number and origin of website visitors) enable us to optimise our website and improve its design - such as by placing frequently accessed information or topics on our website at the right location to meet demand.

For web analysis we use " Google Analytics ", a web analysis service of Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (hereinafter "Google"), with the "IP anonymisation" extension (also called "IP masking method"). To this end, we have concluded a data processing agreement with Google in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR. Google will accordingly process the data collected (data about your end device or web browser, IP addresses and your website or application activities) on our behalf for the purposes of evaluating your use of our website, compiling reports on website activity and providing other services relating to website and internet usage.

The data collected using Google Analytics may be stored and processed in the USA or any other country in which Google or subprocessors of Google maintain facilities. The IP masking method that we use ensures that before the IP address is transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there, it is shortened within EU member states or in other EEA member states so that no IP address is transferred in its entirety, thereby preventing or considerably complicating identification of a person. Only in exceptional cases will the complete, i.e. entire, IP address be transferred to a Google server in the USA and only shortened there.

For a data transfer to a third country, i.e. a country outside the EU or EEA, appropriate safeguards for the protection of your personal data are generally required. After the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1250 of 12 July 2016 on the adequacy of the protection provided by the EU-US Privacy Shield was declared invalid by the European Court of Justice, the EU-US Privacy Shield can no longer be used to guarantee an adequate level of protection in the USA in line with EU standards. Consequently, in the USA there does not currently exist a level of data protection that is equivalent to that prevailing in the EU pursuant to Art. 45 GDPR and we cannot provide appropriate safeguards under Art. 46 GDPR to offset this shortcoming. As a result, data transfer to the USA is only permitted here with your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. Possible risks of this data transfer are that access by state authorities, such as security agencies and/or intelligence services, cannot be excluded and your data could be processed by them - possibly without you being informed separately and without you having enforceable rights and effective legal remedies available to you - for reasons of national security, law enforcement or for other purposes in the public interest of the USA.

Service provider information:
Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

Representative in the European Union:
Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland

Terms and conditions of commissioned data processing for Google advertising products:
https://privacy.google.com/businesses/processorterms/

Terms of Service for Google Analytics:
https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/us/

Overview of data usage in Google Analytics:
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en

Google Privacy Policy:
https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

Technical explanation of "IP anonymisation (or IP masking method)" in Analytics:
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2763052?hl=en

Additional note:
If you wish to deactivate Google Analytics across all websites, you can download and install the "Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on" at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en . This option only disables web analysis as long as you are using a web browser for which you have installed the add-on.

  • Marketing

Subject to your consent, we use marketing cookies. Marketing cookies can detect whether you have accessed an advertised website and what content has been - and is being - used by you to display advertising content that is relevant to you and tailored to your interests, to limit the frequency with which advertisements appear and to measure the success or effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

For marketing purposes we use the following advertising products of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (hereinafter together referred to as "Google").

We use the advertising product " Google Ads " (formerly: AdWords), which enables us to display advertisements inter alia in Google search results, in the Google partner network or on other Google platforms. When you interact with an advertisement placed through Google Ads, such as by clicking on an advertisement, " Google Ads Conversion Tracking " uses a cookie to track whether you have subsequently completed an action ("conversion") defined by us, such as subscribing to a newsletter. The information collected with the help of the cookie involved is provided to us by Google in the form of so-called conversion statistics, from which we can read, for example, the total number of anonymous users who have clicked on our advertisement. We do not ourselves receive any information that would enable personal identification. In addition to Google Ads Conversion Tracking, we use " Google Ads Remarketing ", which enables advertisements to be displayed in the Google partner network during your subsequent internet usage, after you have visited our website. To this end, Google records your usage behaviour when you visit various websites in the Google partner network, whereby, according to Google, pseudonymisation is used. One further advertising product that we use is " Google Ad Manager " (formerly: DoubleClick) to present targeted advertisements to you based on your perceived interests. A pseudonymous identification number is assigned to the web browser that you are using in order to check which advertisements have already been displayed in your web browser and which of them you have accessed.

Data collected in the context of Google's advertising products may be stored and processed by Google inter alia in the USA. We have no influence over further data processing by Google. For a data transfer to a third country, i.e. a country outside the EU or EEA, appropriate safeguards for the protection of your personal data are generally required. After the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1250 of 12 July 2016 on the adequacy of the protection provided by the EU-US Privacy Shield was declared invalid by the European Court of Justice, the EU-US Privacy Shield can no longer be used to guarantee an adequate level of protection in the USA in line with EU standards. Consequently, in the USA there does not currently exist a level of data protection that is equivalent to that prevailing in the EU pursuant to Art. 45 GDPR and we cannot provide appropriate safeguards under Art. 46 GDPR to offset this shortcoming. As a result, data transfer to the USA is only permitted here with your explicit consent in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. Possible risks of this data transfer are that access by state authorities, such as security agencies and/or intelligence services, cannot be excluded and your data could be processed by them - possibly without you being informed separately and without you having enforceable rights and effective legal remedies available to you - for reasons of national security, law enforcement or for other purposes in the public interest of the USA.

Service provider information:

Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland;Parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

Website:
https://marketingplatform.google.com

Google Privacy Policy:
https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

2. On which legal basis are optional cookies used?
We use optional cookies on the basis of the consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) (a) in conjunction with Art. 7 GDPR.

3. How can I withdraw the consent that I have given to the use of optional cookies?
When you (first) access our website, we request inter alia your consent for the use of optional cookies by means of a predefined query ("Cookies, other technologies and miscellaneous services"). You can withdraw the consent that you have given at any time with effect for the future and thereby prevent further collection of your data by deselecting optional cookies (web analysis, marketing) in the settings of the consent management service.

If and insofar as you do not consent or withdraw consent already given - (further) data collection by means of optional cookies requiring consent and the associated data processing will cease. This presents no drawbacks when using the website, unless you also deactivate the cookie functions for essential cookies.

The withdrawal of consent shall not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

As an alternative to withdrawing your consent, you can also make use of the options described under point C. to erase or block cookies using the information provided there.

C. How can I erase cookies already stored on my end device or block the storage of cookies?

Cookies are stored on your end device, so you have the control over them. If you do not want us to recognise your end device, you can deactivate or erase cookies already stored on your end device - manually or automatically - at any time and/or block storage of cookies with future effect by setting your web browser software to "not accept cookies" or similar. Most web browsers can also be configured in such a way that cookie storage is only accepted if you agree to this separately on a case-by-case basis. If you do not wish to accept cookies from our service providers and partners, you should have your web browser set to "block third-party cookies" or similar. You can also block tracking in general by activating the "Do not track" function in your web browser. Usually, the "Help" function in the menu bar of your web browser shows you how to deactivate or erase cookies already stored there and how to decline new cookies. For details of the options described, please refer to the instructions provided by your web browser manufacturer.

Please note that if you erase without blocking, any essential cookies will be set the next time and we may ask you once again for your consent to optional cookies when you access our website at a later date. Please also note that deactivating or erasing or blocking essential cookies may affect the performance and functionality of our website and may cause certain features and functions to be unavailable.

You can manage the settings for the use of optional cookies and the associated data processing at any time in the settings of the consent management service.