Initiation

With the following privacy policy, we would like to explain to you what types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) we process for what purposes and to what extent. The privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of providing our services and in particular on our websites, in mobile applications and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online offer”).

The terms used are not gender-specific.
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Person responsible

Waldemar Hartung, Heribert Laaber

Fleischmarkt 1
AT-1010 Vienna
austria

Commercial register: FN627815 h
Register court: Vienna Commercial Court

email: info (at) vmt.capital

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Overview of processing

The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the persons concerned.

Types of data processed

• Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses).
• Content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
• contact details (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers).
• Meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
• Contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, duration, customer category).

Categories of affected persons

• Employees (e.g. employees, applicants, former employees).
• interested parties.
• communication partner.
• customers.
• users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing

• Affiliate tracking.
• Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
• Conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures).
• Office and organizational procedures.
• Content Delivery Network (CDN).
• Direct marketing (e.g. via email or post).
• Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
• marketing.
• Contact requests and communication.
• Profiles with user-related information (creating user profiles).
• Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors).
• Provision of contractual services and customer service.

Relevant legal bases

The following is an overview of the legal bases of the GDPR, on the basis of which we process personal data. Please note that, in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection requirements may apply in your or our country of residence or place of residence. Should more specific legal bases also apply in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.

• Consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR) - The data subject has given consent to the processing of personal data concerning him or her for a specific purpose or several specific purposes.
• Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR) - Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or to carry out pre-contractual measures taken at the request of the data subject.
• Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) - Processing is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the controller or of a third party, unless the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject, which require the protection of personal data, prevail.

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the General Data Protection Regulation, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. This includes in particular the Act on Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Federal Data Protection Act — BDSG). In particular, the BDSG contains special rules on the right to information, the right to deletion, the right of objection, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes and transmission and automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. It also regulates data processing for employment purposes (Section 26 BDSG), in particular with regard to the establishment, implementation or termination of employment relationships and the consent of employees. In addition, state data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Safety measures

In accordance with legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, implementation costs and the nature, scope, circumstances and purposes of processing as well as the different probabilities of occurrence and the extent of the threat to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, we take appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

The measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data as well as the access, input, transfer, availability and separation of data relating to it. We have also set up procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data and responses to data risks. In addition, we take the protection of personal data into account when developing or selecting hardware, software and processes in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and through privacy-friendly default settings.

IP address abbreviation: If IP addresses are processed by us or by the service providers and technologies used and the processing of a full IP address is not required, the IP address is abbreviated (also known as “IP masking”). This removes the last two digits, or the last part of the IP address after a dot, or replaces them with placeholders. The purpose of abbreviating the IP address is to prevent or make it significantly more difficult to identify a person based on their IP address.

SSL encryption (https): In order to protect your data transmitted via our online offering, we use SSL encryption. You can recognize such encrypted connections by the prefix https://in the address bar of your browser.

Transfer of personal data

As part of our processing of personal data, the data may be transferred to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units or persons or disclosed to them. Recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers tasked with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.

Data processing in third countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA)) or processing takes place as part of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transfer of data to other persons, bodies or companies, this is only done in accordance with legal requirements.

Subject to express consent or contractually or legally required transfer, we process or have the data processed only in third countries with a recognized level of data protection, contractual obligation through so-called standard protection clauses issued by the EU Commission, if certifications or binding internal data protection regulations exist (Articles 44 to 49 GDPR, information page of the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de).

Deletion of data

The data processed by us will be deleted in accordance with legal requirements as soon as their consent permitted for processing is withdrawn or other permits no longer apply (e.g. if the purpose of processing this data has ceased to apply or they are not necessary for the purpose).

Unless the data is deleted because it is necessary for other and legally permitted purposes, its processing will be limited to these purposes. This means that the data is blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be stored for commercial or tax reasons or whose storage is necessary to assert, exercise or defend legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person.

As part of our data protection policy, we can provide users with further information about the deletion and storage of data that applies specifically to the respective processing process.

Use of cookies

Cookies are text files that contain data from visited websites or domains and are stored by a browser on the user's computer. A cookie is primarily used to store information about a user during or after their visit to an online offer. The stored information can include, for example, the language settings on a website, the login status, a shopping cart or the location where a video was watched. The term cookies also includes other technologies that perform the same functions as cookies (e.g. when user information is stored using pseudonymous online identifiers, also known as “user IDs”)

The following types of cookies and functions are differentiated:

• Temporary cookies (also: session or session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offer and closed their browser.
• Persistent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the browser is closed. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. The interests of users that are used to measure reach or for marketing purposes can also be stored in such a cookie.
• First-party cookies: First-party cookies are set by ourselves.
• Third party cookies (also: third party cookies): Third-party cookies are mainly used by advertisers (so-called third parties) to process user information.
• Necessary (also: essential or absolutely necessary) cookies: On the one hand, cookies may be absolutely necessary for the operation of a website (e.g. to save logins or other user inputs or for security reasons).
• Statistics, marketing and personalization cookies: In addition, cookies are usually also used as part of audience measurement and when a user's interests or behavior (e.g. viewing certain content, using functions, etc.) are stored in a user profile on individual websites. Such profiles are used, for example, to show users content that matches their potential interests. This process is also known as “tracking”, i.e. tracking the potential interests of users. If we use cookies or “tracking” technologies, we will inform you separately in our privacy policy or when obtaining consent.

Information on legal bases: The legal basis on which we process your personal data using cookies depends on whether we ask you for consent. If this is the case and you consent to the use of cookies, the legal basis for processing your data is consent. Otherwise, the data processed using cookies will be processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (e.g. in operating our online offering and improving it) or if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations.

Storage period: Unless we provide you with explicit information about the storage period of permanent cookies (e.g. as part of a so-called cookie opt-in), please assume that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out): Depending on whether the processing is based on consent or legal permission, you have the option at any time to withdraw your consent or to object to the processing of your data through cookie technologies (collectively referred to as “opt-out”). You can first declare your objection using your browser settings, e.g. by deactivating the use of cookies (which may also restrict the functionality of our online offering). An objection to the use of cookies for online marketing purposes can also be made using a variety of services, especially in the case of tracking, via websites https://optout.aboutads.infoand https://www.youronlinechoices.com/ be explained. In addition, you may receive further objection notices as part of the information on the service providers and cookies used.

Processing cookie data based on consent: We use a cookie consent management process, within the framework of which user consents to the use of cookies, or the processing and providers mentioned as part of the cookie consent management process, can be obtained and managed and withdrawn by users. The declaration of consent is saved so that you do not have to repeat the request again and to be able to prove your consent in accordance with the legal obligation. The storage can take place on the server side and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie, or using comparable technologies) in order to be able to assign consent to a user or their device. Subject to individual information about the providers of cookie management services, the following information applies: The period of storage of consent may be up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored at the time of consent, information on the scope of the consent (e.g. which categories of cookies and/or service providers) and the browser, system and device used.

• Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. f. GDPR).

Provision of online services and web hosting

In order to be able to provide our online offer securely and efficiently, we use the services of one or more web hosting providers, from whose servers (or servers managed by them) the online offer can be accessed. For these purposes, we may use infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage and database services, as well as security services and technical maintenance services.

The data processed as part of providing the hosting service may include all information relating to users of our online offer that is generated in the course of use and communication. This regularly includes the IP address, which is necessary to be able to deliver the content of online offers to browsers, and all entries made within our online offering or from websites.

Collection of access data and log files: We ourselves (or our web hosting provider) collect data every time we access the server (so-called server log files). The server log files may include the address and name of the retrieved websites and files, date and time of retrieval, amount of data transferred, notification of successful retrieval, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page) and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider.

The server log files can be used, on the one hand, for security purposes, e.g. to avoid server overloading (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks) and, on the other hand, to ensure server load and stability.

Content delivery network: We use a “content delivery network” (CDN). A CDN is a service that allows content from an online offering, in particular large media files, such as graphics or program scripts, to be delivered faster and more securely with the help of regionally distributed servers connected via the Internet.

• Types of data processed: Content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and usability, content delivery network (CDN).
• Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Services and service providers used:

• Webflow: We use Webflow services to build static websites that can also include online forms. Service provider: Webflow, Inc. 208 Utah, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; website: https://webflow.com; Privacy Policy: https://webflow.com/legal/eu-privacy-policy.

Blogs and publication media

We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter “publication medium”). Readers' data is processed for the purposes of the publication medium only to the extent necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for reasons of security. In addition, we refer to the information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium within the framework of this data protection policy.

• Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
• Legal bases: Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (1) (f) GDPR).

Contact and request management

When contacting us (e.g. via contact form, e-mail, telephone or via social media), the information provided by the inquiring persons is processed insofar as this is necessary to answer the contact requests and any measures requested.

Contact requests within the framework of contractual or pre-contractual relationships are answered to fulfill our contractual obligations or to answer (pre) contractual inquiries and otherwise on the basis of the legitimate interests in answering the inquiries.

• Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
• Affected persons: communication partner.
• Purposes of processing: Contact requests and communication.
• Legal bases: Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (1) (f) GDPR).

Video conferences, online meetings, webinars, and screen sharing

We use platforms and applications from other providers (hereinafter referred to as “conference platforms”) for the purpose of conducting video and audio conferences, webinars and other types of video and audio meetings (collectively referred to as “conference”). When selecting conference platforms and their services, we comply with legal requirements.

Data processed through conference platforms: As part of participating in a conference, the conference platforms process the personal data of the participants mentioned below. The extent of processing depends, on the one hand, on which data is required as part of a specific conference (e.g. provision of login details or real names) and which optional information is provided by the participants. In addition to processing to carry out the conference, the participants' data can also be processed by the conference platforms for security purposes or service optimization. The processed data includes personal data (first name, last name), contact information (e-mail address, telephone number), access data (access codes or passwords), profile pictures, professional position/function information, the IP address of Internet access, information about the participants' terminal devices, their operating system, the browser and its technical and language settings, information on the content communication processes, i.e. inputs in chats and audio and video data, as well as the use of others available standing functions (e.g. surveys). The content of communications is encrypted to the extent technically provided by the conference providers. If the participants are registered as users on the conference platforms, then further data can be processed in accordance with the agreement with the respective conference provider.

Logging and recording: If text entries, participation results (e.g. from surveys) and video or audio recordings are logged, this is transparently notified to the participants in advance and they are asked — if necessary — for consent.

Participants' data protection measures: Please note the details of the processing of your data by the conference platforms in their privacy policies and, as part of the settings for the conference platforms, choose the optimal security and data protection settings for you. Please also ensure data and privacy protection in the background of your recording for the duration of a video conference (e.g. by notifying roommates, locking doors and using, as far as technically possible, the function to obscure the background). Links to the conference rooms and access data must not be passed on to unauthorized third parties.

Information on legal bases: If, in addition to the conference platforms, we also process users' data and ask users for their consent to the use of the conference platforms or certain functions (e.g. consent to recording conferences), the legal basis for processing is this consent. Furthermore, our processing may be necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations (e.g. in lists of participants, in the case of processing of conversation results, etc.). In addition, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests in efficient and secure communication with our communication partners.

• Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service, contact requests and communication, office and organizational procedures.
• Legal bases: Consent (Article 6 (1) (1) (a) GDPR), contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f)).

Services and service providers used:

• Zoom: Video conferencing, web conferencing, and webinars; service provider: Zoom Video Communications, Inc., 55 Almaden Blvd., Suite 600, San Jose, CA 95113, USA; website: https://zoom.us; Privacy Policy: https://zoom.us/docs/de-de/privacy-and-legal.html; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring data protection level when processing in third countries): https://zoom.us/docs/de-de/privacy-and-legal.html(Referred to as Global DPA).

Music and podcasts

We use hosting and analysis offers from service providers to offer our audio content to listen to or download and to obtain statistical information about retrieving the audio content.

• Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures), profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).

Services and service providers used:

• Soundcloud: Soundcloud - music hosting; service provider: SoundCloud Limited, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin, Germany; website: https://soundcloud.com; Privacy Policy: https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy.

Cloud services

We use software services accessible via the Internet and run on their providers' servers (so-called “cloud services”, also known as “software as a service”) for the following purposes: document storage and administration, calendar management, email delivery, spreadsheets and presentations, exchange of documents, content and information with specific recipients or publication of websites, forms or other content and information, and chats and participation in audio and video conferences.

Within this framework, personal data may be processed and stored on the providers' servers, insofar as this is part of communication processes with us or is otherwise processed by us as set out in this privacy policy. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact details of users, data on processes, contracts, other processes and their content. Cloud service providers also process usage data and metadata, which are used by them for security purposes and service optimization.

If we use cloud services to provide forms or documents and content to other users or publicly accessible websites, the providers can store cookies on users' devices for web analysis purposes or to remember user settings (e.g. in the case of media control).

Information on legal bases: If we ask for consent to use cloud services, the legal basis for processing is consent. Furthermore, their use may be part of our (pre) contractual services, provided that the use of cloud services has been agreed within this framework. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient and secure administrative and collaboration processes)

• Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: Customers, employees (e.g. employees, applicants, former employees), interested parties, communication partners.
• Purposes of processing: Office and organizational procedures.
• Legal bases: Consent (Article 6 (1) (1) (a) GDPR), contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f)).

Services and service providers used:

• Dropbox: cloud storage services; service provider: Dropbox, Inc., 333 Brannan Street, San Francisco, California 94107, USA; website: https://www.dropbox.com/de; Privacy Policy: https://www.dropbox.com/privacy; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring data protection level when processing in third countries): https://www.dropbox.com/terms/business-agreement-2016.
• WeTransfer: cloud storage services; file transfer, service provider: WeTransfer, Willem Fenengastraat 191096BL AmsterdamThe Netherlands, website: https://www.wetransfer.com; Privacy Policy: https://wetransfer.com/legal/privacy; Declaration of use: https://wetransfer.com/legal/terms; standard contractual clauses

Newsletters and electronic notifications

We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (hereinafter “newsletters”) with the consent of the recipients or legal permission. If the content of the newsletter is specifically described as part of a subscription to the newsletter, they are decisive for the consent of the users. In addition, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

In order to subscribe to our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to provide your e-mail address. However, we may ask you to provide a name in order to address you personally in the newsletter, or further information, if this is necessary for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double opt-in process: Registration for our newsletter generally takes place in a so-called double opt-in process. This means that after registration, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can log in with foreign email addresses. Subscriptions to the newsletter are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes saving the time of registration and confirmation as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored with the shipping service provider are also logged.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We can store the unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before we delete them in order to be able to prove a previously given consent. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of possible defense against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed at the same time. In the event of obligations to permanently comply with objections, we reserve the right to store the email address in a blocked list (so-called “block list”) for this purpose alone.

The registration process is logged on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving that it has been completed correctly. Insofar as we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure delivery system.

Information on legal bases: The newsletter is sent on the basis of the consent of the recipients or, if consent is not required, on the basis of our legitimate interests in direct marketing, if and insofar as this is permitted by law, e.g. in the case of advertising to existing customers. Insofar as we engage a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests. The registration process is recorded based on our legitimate interests to prove that it was carried out in accordance with the law.

Content: Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.

Measurement of open and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called “web beacon”, i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server when the newsletter is opened or, if we use a shipping service provider, from its server. As part of this retrieval, technical information, such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, is first collected.

This information is used to technically improve our newsletter based on technical data or target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined using the IP address) or access times. This analysis also includes determining whether the newsletters are opened, when they are opened and which links are clicked. This information is assigned to individual newsletter recipients and stored in their profiles until they are deleted. The evaluations help us to recognize the reading habits of our users and to adapt our content to them or to send different content according to the interests of our users.

The measurement of opening rates and click rates as well as storage of measurement results in user profiles and their further processing are based on user consent.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to cancel the performance measurement separately; in this case, the entire newsletter subscription must be cancelled or objected to. In this case, the saved profile information is deleted.

• Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times).
• Affected persons: communication partner.
• Purposes of processing: Direct marketing (e.g. via email or post).
• Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. f. GDPR).
• Objection option (opt-out): You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. withdraw your consent or object to further receipt. You will either find a link to cancel the newsletter at the end of each newsletter or you can otherwise use one of the contact options listed above, preferably e-mail.

Services and service providers used:

• Mailchimp: Email delivery and email marketing platform; service provider: “Mailchimp” - Rocket Science Group, LLC, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE #5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA; website: https://mailchimp.com; Privacy Policy: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/; Standard contractual clauses as a basis for processing in the USA: https://mailchimp.com/legal/data-processing-addendum/; special safety measures: https://mailchimp.com/help/Mailchimp-european-data-transfers/.
• MailerLite: Email delivery and email marketing platform; service provider: “MailerLite” - MailerLite Limited, 38 Mount Street Upper, Dublin 2, D02 PR89 Ireland, MailerLite, Inc., a Delaware corporation, 548 Market St, PMB 98174, San Francisco, CA 94104-5401, United States, website: https://mailerlite.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/privacy-policy; Standard contractual clauses as a basis for processing in the USA: https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/data-processing-agreement; special safety measures: https://www.mailerlite.com/gdpr-compliance.

Surveys and surveys

The surveys and surveys carried out by us (hereinafter “surveys”) are evaluated anonymously. Personal data will only be processed insofar as this is necessary to provide and technically carry out the surveys (e.g. processing of the IP address to display the survey in the user's browser or to enable the survey to be resumed using a temporary cookie (session cookie)) or users have given their consent.

Information on legal bases: If we ask participants for consent to process their data, this is the legal basis for processing; otherwise, the participants' data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests in carrying out an objective survey.

• Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: communication partner.
• Purposes of processing: Contact requests and communication, direct marketing (e.g. by e-mail or post).
• Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. f. GDPR).

Services and service providers used:

• Google form: Google cloud forms; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://firebase.google.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out option: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for displaying advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

Web analysis (also known as “reach measurement”) is used to evaluate the flow of visitors to our online offering and may include behavior, interests or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, identify at what time our online offering or its functions or content are used most frequently or invite them to be reused. We can also understand which areas need optimization.

In addition to web analysis, we can also use test methods, for example to test and optimize different versions of our online offering or its components.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles can be created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar processes can be used for the same purpose. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited and elements used there, and technical information, such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this may also be processed, depending on the provider.

The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, we use an IP masking process (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, as part of web analysis, A/B testing and optimization, no clear user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored, but pseudonyms. This means that we as well as the providers of the software used do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economic and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

VG Wort/Scalable Central Measurement Method: We use “session cookies” from VG Wort, Munich, to measure access to texts in order to record the probability of copying. Session cookies are small pieces of information that a provider stores in the memory of the visitor's computer. A session cookie stores a randomly generated unique identification number, a so-called session ID. A cookie also contains information about its origin and storage period. Session cookies cannot store any other data. These measurements are carried out by Kantar Germany GmbH using the Scalable Central Measurement Method (SZM). They help to determine the likelihood of individual texts being copied to meet legal claims by authors and publishers. We do not collect any personal data via cookies.

With the scalable central measurement method, anonymous measurement values are collected. Access number measurement alternatively uses a session cookie or a signature to recognize computer systems, which is created from various automatically transmitted information from your browser. IP addresses are only processed in anonymized form. The process was developed in compliance with data protection. The sole aim of the process is to determine the probability of individual texts being copied. Individual users are not identified at any time. Your identity is always protected. You will not receive any advertising via the system.

• Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, recognition of returning visitors), profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
• Safety measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
• Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. f. GDPR).

Services and service providers used:

• VG Wort/Scalable Central Measurement Method: VG Wort/Scalable Central Measurement Method; Service Provider: Wertungsgesellschaft WORT (VG WORT), Untere Weidenstraße 5, 81543 Munich, Germany; website: https://www.vgwort.de; Privacy Policy: https://www.vgwort.de/hilfsseiten/datenschutz.html.

online marketing

We process personal data for online marketing purposes, which may include marketing advertising space or presenting advertising and other content (collectively referred to as “content”) based on the potential interests of users and measuring their effectiveness.

For these purposes, so-called user profiles are created and stored in a file (so-called “cookie”) or similar procedures are used to store the user information relevant to the presentation of the aforementioned content. This information may include, for example, content viewed, websites visited, online networks used, but also communication partners and technical information, such as the browser used, the computer system used and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data, this can also be processed.

The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, we use available IP masking methods (i.e. pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. In general, as part of the online marketing process, no clear user data (such as e-mail addresses or names) is stored, but pseudonyms. This means that we as well as the providers of online marketing processes do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles.

The information in the profiles is usually stored in cookies or using similar procedures. These cookies can generally also be read out and analysed for the purpose of presenting content on other websites that use the same online marketing process, as well as supplemented with further data and stored on the server of the online marketing process provider.

As an exception, plain data can be assigned to the profiles. This is the case if the users are, for example, members of a social network whose online marketing process we use and the network connects the users' profiles with the above information. Please note that users can make additional agreements with providers, e.g. through consent as part of registration.

In principle, we only have access to summarized information about the success of our advertisements. However, as part of so-called conversion measurements, we can check which of our online marketing processes have led to a so-called conversion, i.e. to the conclusion of a contract with us, for example. Conversion measurement is used solely to analyze the success of our marketing measures.

Unless otherwise stated, please assume that cookies used will be stored for a period of two years.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economic and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

• Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Marketing, profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles), conversion measurement (measurement of the effectiveness of marketing measures).
• Safety measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
• Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. a. GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. f. GDPR).
• Objection option (opt-out): We refer to the data protection policies of the respective providers and the objection options provided to the providers (so-called “opt-out”). If no explicit opt-out option has been specified, it is possible, on the one hand, to switch off cookies in your browser settings. However, this may restrict the functions of our online offering. We therefore recommend the following additional opt-out options, which are offered in summary for respective areas: a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu. b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices. c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices. d) Across territories: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Services and service providers used:

• Google Tag Manager: Google Tag Manager is a solution that allows us to manage so-called website tags via an interface and thus integrate other services into our online offering (please refer to further information in this privacy policy). The Tag Manager itself (which implements the tags) therefore does not yet create user profiles or store cookies, for example. Google only learns the user's IP address, which is necessary to run Google Tag Manager. Service provider: 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; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
• Google Analytics: Online marketing and web analysis; service provider: 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/intl/de/about/analytics/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out option: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for displaying advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
• Google Ads and conversion measurement: We use the “Google Ads” online marketing process to place ads on the Google advertising network (e.g., in search results, in videos, on websites, etc.) so that they are displayed to users who have a presumed interest in the ads. We also measure the conversion of ads. However, we only learn the anonymous total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to a page with a so-called “conversion tracking tag.” However, we ourselves do not receive any information that can be used to identify users. Service provider: 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; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Affiliate programs and affiliate links

In our online offering, we include so-called affiliate links or other references (which may include search masks, widgets or discount codes) to third-party offers and services (collectively referred to as “affiliate links”). If users follow the affiliate links or then take advantage of the offers, we may receive a commission or other benefits from these third parties (collectively referred to as “commission”).

In order to be able to track whether users have taken advantage of the offers of an affiliate link used by us, it is necessary for the respective third party providers to know that the users have followed an affiliate link used within our online offering. The attribution of affiliate links to the respective business transactions or to other actions (e.g. purchases) serves the sole purpose of commission settlement and is canceled as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose.

For the purposes of the aforementioned allocation of affiliate links, the affiliate links can be supplemented with certain values which are part of the link or can be stored in other ways, e.g. in a cookie. The values may include in particular the source website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identification of the respective offer, the type of link used, the type of offer and an online identification of the user.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Furthermore, their use may be part of our (pre) contractual services, provided that the use of third-party providers has been agreed within this framework. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economic and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

Webflow Partner Program

• Types of data processed: Contract data (e.g. subject matter of contract, duration, customer category), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Affiliate tracking.
• Legal bases: Consent (Article 6 (1) (1) (a) GDPR), contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f)).

Services and service providers used:

• Amazon affiliate program: Amazon - Affiliate Program - Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or one of its affiliates. Service providers: Amazon Europe Core S.à.r.l., Amazon EU S.à.r.l, Amazon Services Europe S.à.r.l. and Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., all four located at 38, avenue John F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg, and Amazon Instant Video Germany GmbH, Domagkstr. 28, 80807 Munich (together “Amazon Europe”), parent company: Amazon.com, Inc., 2021 Seventh Ave, Seattle, Washington 98121, USA; website: https://www.amazon.de; Privacy Policy: https://www.amazon.de/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201909010.

Presences on social networks (social media)

We maintain online presences within social networks and, within this framework, process user data in order to communicate with users active there or to offer information about us.

We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may result in risks for users because, for example, it could make it more difficult to enforce users' rights.

Furthermore, user data within social networks is usually processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of users. The user profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably match the interests of users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on users' computers, in which user behavior and interests are stored. In addition, data can also be stored in the user profiles regardless of the devices used by the users (in particular if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).

For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the options for objection (opt-out), we refer to the data protection declarations and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

Even in the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would like to point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to user data and can directly take appropriate measures and provide information. Should you still need help, you can contact us.

• Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Contact requests and communication, feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form), marketing.
• Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Services and service providers used:

• Instagram: Social network; service provider: Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA, parent company: Facebook, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA; website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy Policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.
• LinkedIn: Social network; service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland; website: https://www.linkedin.com; Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy; Objection option (opt-out): https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.
• Pinterest: Social network; service provider: Pinterest Inc., 635 High Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA; website: https://www.pinterest.com; Privacy Policy: https://about.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy; Objection option (opt-out): https://about.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy.
• Vimeo: Social network and video platform; service provider: Vimeo Inc., Attention: Legal Department, 555 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011, USA; website: https://vimeo.com; Privacy Policy: https://vimeo.com/privacy.
• YouTube: Social network and video platform; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Objection option (opt-out): https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Plug-ins and embedded features and content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online offering, which are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”). These may include, for example, graphics, videos or city maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as “content”).

Integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the users' IP addresses, as they would not be able to send the content to their browsers without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or functions. We make every effort to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third parties can also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. The “pixel tags” can be used to evaluate information, such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information can also be stored in cookies on the user's device and contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and the operating system, referring websites, the time of visit and other information about the use of our online offer, as well as be linked to such information from other sources.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economic and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

Integration of third-party software, scripts or frameworks (e.g. jQuery): We integrate software into our online offering that we retrieve from servers from other providers (e.g. functional libraries that we use to display or make our online offering user-friendly). In doing so, the respective providers collect the IP address of the users and can process it for the purpose of transmitting the software to the user's browser and for security purposes as well as for evaluating and optimizing their offer.

• Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms).
• Affected persons: users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offer and usability, provision of contractual services and customer service, profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
• Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR), consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR), contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Services and service providers used:

• reCAPTCHA: We include the “reCAPTCHA” function to be able to recognize whether entries (e.g. in online forms) are made by people and not by automatically acting machines (so-called “bots”). The processed data may include IP addresses, information about operating systems, devices or browsers used, language settings, location, mouse movements, keystrokes, time spent on websites, previously visited websites, interactions with reCAPTCHA on other websites, possibly cookies and results of manual recognition processes (e.g. answering questions asked or selecting objects in images). Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://www.google.com/recaptcha/; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out option: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for displaying advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
• Soundcloud music player widget: Soundcloud Music Player Widget; service provider: SoundCloud Limited, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin, Germany; website: https://soundcloud.com; Privacy Policy: https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy.
• YouTube videos: Video content; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://www.youtube.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy; Opt-out option: Opt-out plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de, settings for displaying advertisements: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
• YouTube videos: Video content; YouTube is connected to the domain https://www.youtube-nocookie.com integrated in the so-called “extended data protection mode”, which means that no cookies are collected about user activities in order to personalize video playback. However, information about user interaction with the video (e.g. remembering the last playback location) can be saved; service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; website: https://www.youtube.com; Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
• Vimeo: Video content; service provider: Vimeo Inc., Attention: Legal Department, 555 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011, USA; website: https://vimeo.com; Privacy Policy: https://vimeo.com/privacy; Opt-out option: We would like to point out that Vimeo can use Google Analytics and refer to the privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and the opt-out options for Google Analytics (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de) or Google's settings for data use for marketing purposes (https://adssettings.google.com/).

Management, organization and auxiliary tools

We use services, platforms and software from other providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”) for the purposes of organizing, managing, planning and providing our services. When selecting third-party providers and their services, we comply with legal requirements.

Within this framework, personal data may be processed and stored on the servers of third-party providers. This may affect various data that we process in accordance with this privacy policy. This data may include, in particular, master data and contact details of users, data on processes, contracts, other processes and their content.

If users are referred to the third-party providers or their software or platforms as part of communication, business or other relationships with us, the third-party providers may process usage data and metadata for security purposes, service optimization or marketing purposes. We therefore ask you to comply with the privacy policies of the respective third-party providers.

Information on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to use third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Furthermore, their use may be part of our (pre) contractual services, provided that the use of third-party providers has been agreed within this framework. Otherwise, user data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in efficient, economic and recipient-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

• Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g. names, addresses), contact data (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers), content data (e.g. entries in online forms), usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses).
• Affected persons: Communication partners, users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
• Legal bases: Consent (Article 6 (1) (1) (a) GDPR), contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f)).

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