Privacy Policy
With the following privacy policy, we would like to inform you about the types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to simply as “data”) that we process, for what purposes, and to what extent. This 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 the “online offering”).
The terms used are not gender-specific.
As of: March 19, 2026
Table of Contents
Preamble
Controller
Overview of Processing Activities
Relevant Legal Bases
Security Measures
Transfer of Personal Data
General Information on Data Storage and Deletion
Rights of Data Subjects
Business Services
Payment Procedures
Provision of the Online Offering and Web Hosting
Use of Cookies
Registration, Login, and User Account
Blogs and Publication Media
Newsletters and Electronic Notifications
Promotional Communication via Email, Post, Fax, or Telephone
Amendment and Updating
Definitions
Controller
Schildknecht GmbH
Markt 16 - 18
60311 Frankfurt am Main
Authorized representative(s): Hans-Peter Zarges
Email address: hpz@schildknecht.group
Telephone: 01717503831
Overview of Processing Activities
The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the data subjects concerned.
Types of Processed Data
Inventory data.
Payment data.
Contact data.
Content data.
Contract data.
Usage data.
Metadata, communication data, and procedural data.
Log data.
Categories of Data Subjects
Service recipients and clients.
Prospective customers.
Communication partners.
Users.
Business and contractual partners.
Purposes of Processing
Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.
Communication.
Security measures.
Direct marketing.
Office and organizational procedures.
Organizational and administrative procedures.
Feedback.
Marketing.
Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
Information technology infrastructure.
Sales promotion.
Business processes and business management procedures.
Relevant Legal Bases
Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: Below you will find an overview of the legal bases of the GDPR on 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 registered office. Furthermore, if more specific legal bases are relevant in individual cases, we will inform you of these in this privacy policy.
Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR) - The data subject has given consent to the processing of personal data concerning them for one or more specific purposes.
Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR) - Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c GDPR) - Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR) - processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights, and freedoms of the data subject requiring the protection of personal data do not override those interests.
National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection provisions of the GDPR, national regulations on data protection apply in Germany. This includes, in particular, the Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz – BDSG). The BDSG contains, in particular, special provisions on the right of access, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes, and transmission as well as automated individual decision-making including profiling. Furthermore, the data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.
Security Measures
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures in accordance with the 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 varying likelihood and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, in order to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.
These measures include, in particular, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data, as well as access concerning them, input, disclosure, securing availability, and separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data breaches. In addition, we take the protection of personal data into account already during the development or selection of hardware, software, and procedures, in accordance with the principle of data protection by design and by default.
Securing online connections through TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): In order to protect users’ data transmitted via our online services from unauthorized access, we rely on TLS/SSL encryption technology. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are the cornerstones of secure data transmission on the Internet. These technologies encrypt the information transmitted between the website or app and the user’s browser (or between two servers), thereby protecting the data against unauthorized access. TLS, as the more advanced and secure version of SSL, ensures that all data transmissions comply with the highest security standards. If a website is secured by an SSL/TLS certificate, this is indicated by the display of HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indicator to users that their data is being transmitted securely and in encrypted form.
Transfer of Personal Data
As part of our processing of personal data, it may occur that such data is transferred to or disclosed to other entities, companies, legally independent organizational units, or persons. Recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with the legal requirements and, in particular, conclude corresponding contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.
Data transfer within the organization: We may transfer personal data to other departments or units within our organization or grant them access to it. Where the transfer of data takes place for administrative purposes, it is based on our legitimate business and economic interests or takes place where it is necessary for the fulfillment of our contractual obligations or where the consent of the data subjects or a legal permission exists.
General Information on Data Storage and Deletion
We delete personal data that we process in accordance with the statutory provisions as soon as the underlying consents are revoked or no further legal bases for the processing exist. This applies to cases in which the original purpose of processing no longer applies or the data is no longer required. Exceptions to this rule exist if legal obligations or special interests require longer retention or archiving of the data.
In particular, data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary for legal prosecution or for the protection of the rights of other natural or legal persons must be archived accordingly.
Our privacy notices contain additional information on the retention and deletion of data that specifically applies to certain processing operations.
If several statements are made regarding the retention period or deletion deadlines for a date, the longest period shall always apply.
Data that is no longer retained for the originally intended purpose but due to legal requirements or other reasons will be processed by us exclusively for the reasons that justify its retention.
Retention and deletion of data: The following general periods apply for retention and archiving under German law:
10 years - Retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheets, as well as work instructions and other organizational documents necessary for their understanding (Section 147 para. 1 no. 1 in conjunction with para. 3 AO, Section 14b para. 1 UStG, Section 257 para. 1 no. 1 in conjunction with para. 4 HGB).
8 years - Accounting records, such as invoices and expense receipts (Section 147 para. 1 nos. 4 and 4a in conjunction with para. 3 sentence 1 AO as well as Section 257 para. 1 no. 4 in conjunction with para. 4 HGB).
6 years - Other business documents: received commercial or business letters, reproductions of sent commercial or business letters, other documents insofar as they are relevant for taxation, e.g. hourly wage slips, operating accounting sheets, calculation documents, price labels, but also payroll documents insofar as they are not already accounting records and cash register tapes (Section 147 para. 1 nos. 2, 3, 5 in conjunction with para. 3 AO, Section 257 para. 1 nos. 2 and 3 in conjunction with para. 4 HGB).
3 years - Data required to take into account potential warranty and damages claims or similar contractual claims and rights and to process related inquiries, based on previous business experience and customary industry practice, are stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (Sections 195, 199 BGB).
Commencement of the period at the end of the year: If a period does not expressly begin on a specific date and is at least one year in duration, it automatically begins at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the period occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in the context of which data is stored, the event triggering the period is the time when the termination or other end of the legal relationship becomes effective.
Rights of Data Subjects
Rights of data subjects under the GDPR: As data subjects, you have various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Articles 15 to 21 GDPR:
Right to object: You have the right, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you which is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e or f GDPR; this also applies to profiling based on those provisions. Where personal data concerning you is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.
Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.
Right of access: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether data concerning you is being processed and to obtain information about such data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the statutory provisions.
Right to rectification: In accordance with the statutory provisions, you have the right to request the completion of data concerning you or the correction of inaccurate data concerning you.
Right to erasure and restriction of processing: In accordance with the statutory provisions, you have the right to request that data concerning you be erased without undue delay or, alternatively, to request restriction of processing of the data in accordance with the statutory provisions.
Right to data portability: You have the right to receive the data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format in accordance with the statutory provisions or to request its transfer to another controller.
Complaint to supervisory authority: Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, your place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes the provisions of the GDPR.
Business Services
We process personal data of our contractual and business partners, such as customers, clients, interested parties, suppliers, and other cooperation partners (collectively “contractual partners”), for the initiation, performance, and handling of contractual relationships as well as comparable legal relationships. This also includes pre-contractual measures taken upon request, as well as communication in connection with the respective contractual relationship.
Processing serves in particular to fulfill our principal and secondary contractual obligations. This includes the provision of the agreed services, any updating and information obligations, the handling of warranty claims and other service disruptions, the processing of withdrawals, terminations of continuing obligations, reversals, refunds, as well as the handling of other contract-related declarations and inquiries. This covers both one-time contracts and ongoing contractual relationships.
In particular, we process master data such as name, address, and, where applicable, company, contact data such as email address and telephone number, contract and service data such as the subject matter of the contract, contract term, order or transaction number, usage and service data, payment and billing data as well as communication content and histories. Where necessary, we also process data disclosed or transmitted to us in the course of carrying out an assignment.
In addition, we process the data to safeguard our rights and to fulfill legal obligations. This includes, in particular, retention obligations under commercial and tax law, documentation obligations, and, where applicable, evidentiary and accountability obligations. Processing is also carried out on the basis of our legitimate interests in proper business management, internal administration, risk management and IT security, as well as the protection of our business operations and our contractual partners against misuse, risks to data, secrets, and other legal interests. This may also include the involvement of external service providers such as IT and telecommunications providers, transport and logistics companies, payment service providers, banks, tax and legal advisors, or other vicarious agents, insofar as this is necessary for contract performance or to fulfill legal obligations.
Personal data is disclosed to third parties only insofar as this is necessary for contract performance, the implementation of pre-contractual measures, the safeguarding of legitimate interests, or the fulfillment of legal obligations. We provide separate information on any further processing, in particular for marketing purposes, within this privacy policy.
We inform contractual partners of which data is required in individual cases in the course of data collection, for example in online forms by corresponding markings or in personal contact.
The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the aforementioned purposes and no statutory retention obligations prevent deletion. Statutory retention periods, in particular under commercial and tax law, may require longer storage. Data transmitted in connection with a specific assignment is deleted after completion of the assignment and expiry of any retention periods, provided that no further statutory or contractual obligations to store the data exist.
The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR for the implementation of pre-contractual measures and the performance of the respective contractual relationship, as well as Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR for compliance with legal obligations. Insofar as processing is based on legitimate interests, it is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. Insofar as processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, it is carried out to safeguard our legitimate interests in proper and efficient business organization, internal administration and documentation of business transactions, the assertion and defense of legal claims, ensuring IT and data security, preventing misuse and fraud, and the economic management and further development of our business operations. These interests exist in particular in ensuring secure and legally compliant business operations and in safeguarding our entrepreneurial freedom to act.
Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Metadata, communication data, and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time details, identification numbers, persons involved).
Data subjects: Service recipients and clients; interested parties. Business and contractual partners.
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; communication; office and organizational procedures; organizational and administrative procedures. Business processes and business management procedures.
Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Storage and Deletion”.
Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:
Online shop, order forms, e-commerce, and fulfillment of services: We process our customers’ data in order to enable them to select, purchase, or order the selected products, goods, and related services, as well as their payment and provision, delivery, or execution. Where necessary for the execution of an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, forwarding, and shipping companies, in order to carry out delivery or execution for our customers. For the handling of payment transactions, we use the services of banks and payment service providers. The required information is marked as such in the course of the order or comparable purchase process and includes the information needed for delivery, provision, and billing, as well as contact information in order to be able to make any necessary inquiries; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR).
Payment Procedures
Within the framework of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations, or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer data subjects efficient and secure payment options and, for this purpose, use banks and credit institutions as well as other service providers (collectively “payment service providers”). Payment transactions are carried out exclusively via encrypted connections in accordance with the state of the art, so that the entered data is protected against unauthorized access during transmission.
The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data, such as name and address, bank data, such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as contract, amount, and recipient-related details. This information is required to carry out the transactions. However, the entered data is processed and stored only by the payment service providers. That is, we do not receive any account- or credit card-related information, but only information with confirmation or negative information regarding the payment. Under certain circumstances, the data may be transmitted by the payment service providers to credit agencies. The purpose of this transmission is identity and creditworthiness checks. In this regard, we refer to the payment service providers’ terms and conditions and privacy notices.
The terms and conditions and privacy notices of the respective payment service providers apply to payment transactions and can be accessed within the respective websites or transaction applications. We also refer to these for further information and for asserting rights of withdrawal, access, and other data subject rights.
Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g. bank details, invoices, payment history); contract data (e.g. subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); metadata, communication data, and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time details, identification numbers, persons involved); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers). Content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and posts and the information relating to them, such as authorship or time of creation).
Data subjects: Service recipients and clients; business and contractual partners; interested parties. Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; business processes and business management procedures. Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form).
Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Storage and Deletion”.
Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:
Amazon Payments: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: Amazon Payments Europe S.C.A. 38 avenue J.F. Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://pay.amazon.de/. Privacy Policy: https://pay.amazon.de/help/201212490.
American Express: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: American Express Europe S.A., Theodor-Heuss-Allee 112, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://www.americanexpress.com/de/. Privacy Policy: https://www.americanexpress.com/de-de/firma/legal/datenschutz-center/online-datenschutzerklarung/.
Apple Pay: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: Apple Inc., Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, USA; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://www.apple.com/de/apple-pay/. Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/de-ww/.
Flattr: Flattr - online payment and donation service; Service provider: Flattr AB, Box 4111, 203 12 Malmö, Sweden; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://flattr.com/. Privacy Policy: https://flattr.com/privacy.
Google Pay: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://pay.google.com/intl/de_de/about/. Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
Klarna: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: Klarna Bank AB (publ), Sveavägen 46, 111 34 Stockholm, Sweden; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://www.klarna.com/de. Privacy Policy: https://www.klarna.com/de/datenschutz.
Mastercard: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: Mastercard Europe SA, Chaussée de Tervuren 198A, B-1410 Waterloo, Belgium; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://www.mastercard.de/de-de.html. Privacy Policy: https://www.mastercard.de/de-de/datenschutz.html.
PayPal: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods) (e.g. PayPal, PayPal Plus, Braintree); Service provider: PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://www.paypal.com/de. Privacy Policy: https://www.paypal.com/de/legalhub/paypal/privacy-full.
Stripe: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: Stripe, Inc., 510 Townsend Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://stripe.com; Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/de/privacy. Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
Visa: Payment services (technical integration of online payment methods); Service provider: Visa Europe Services Inc., London branch, 1 Sheldon Square, London W2 6TT, GB; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Website: https://www.visa.de. Privacy Policy: https://www.visa.de/nutzungsbedingungen/visa-privacy-center.html.
Provision of the Online Offering and Web Hosting
We process users’ data in order to be able to provide them with our online services. For this purpose, we process the user’s IP address, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the users’ browser or end device.
Processed data types: Usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); metadata, communication data, and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time details, identification numbers, persons involved). Log data (e.g. log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times.).
Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)). Security measures.
Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Storage and Deletion”.
Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:
Provision of the online offering on rented server space: For the provision of our online offering, we use storage space, computing capacity, and software that we rent or otherwise obtain from a corresponding server provider (also called a “web host”); Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
Collection of access data and log files: Access to our online offering is logged in the form of so-called “server log files.” The server log files may include the address and name of the retrieved web pages and files, date and time of retrieval, transmitted data volumes, message regarding 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 may be used, on the one hand, for security purposes, e.g. to avoid overloading the servers (especially in the event of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and, on the other hand, to ensure the utilization of the servers and their stability; Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR). Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data whose further retention is necessary for evidentiary purposes is excluded from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.
Use of Cookies
The term “cookies” refers to functions that store information on users’ end devices and read information from them. Cookies can also be used for various purposes, for example for the functionality, security, and convenience of online offerings as well as for creating analyses of visitor flows. We use cookies in accordance with the statutory provisions. For this purpose, where required, we obtain users’ consent in advance. If consent is not necessary, we rely on our legitimate interests. This applies where storing and reading information is essential in order to provide expressly requested content and functions. This includes, for example, the storage of settings and ensuring the functionality and security of our online offering. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. We clearly inform about its scope and which cookies are used.
Information on data protection legal bases: Whether we process personal data using cookies depends on consent. If consent has been given, it serves as the legal basis. Without consent, we rely on our legitimate interests, which are explained above in this section and in the context of the respective services and procedures.
Storage duration: With regard to storage duration, the following types of cookies are distinguished:
Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user leaves an online offering and closes their end device (e.g. browser or mobile application).
Permanent cookies: Permanent cookies remain stored even after the end device is closed. For example, the login status can be saved and preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, user data collected with the help of cookies can be used for reach measurement. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g. when obtaining consent), they should assume that these are permanent and that the storage duration can be up to two years.
General information on withdrawal and objection (opt-out): Users can withdraw any consent they have given at any time and can also object to processing in accordance with the statutory provisions, including by means of the privacy settings of their browser.
Processed data types: Metadata, communication data, and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time details, identification numbers, persons involved).
Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR). Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR).
Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:
Processing of cookie data on the basis of consent: We use a consent management solution in which users’ consent to the use of cookies or to the procedures and providers named within the consent management solution is obtained. This procedure serves to obtain, log, manage, and withdraw consents, in particular with regard to the use of cookies and comparable technologies used to store, read, and process information on users’ end devices. Within the framework of this procedure, users’ consents are obtained for the use of cookies and the associated processing of information, including the specific processing operations and providers named in the consent management procedure. Users also have the possibility to manage and withdraw their consents. The declarations of consent are stored in order to avoid a renewed query and to be able to prove consent in accordance with the legal requirements. Storage takes place server-side and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie) or by means of comparable technologies in order to be able to assign the consent to a specific user or their device. Unless specific information on the providers of consent management services is available, the following general information applies: The duration of storage of the consent is up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored together with the time of consent, information on the scope of the consent (e.g. relevant categories of cookies and/or service providers), as well as information about the browser, system, and end device used; Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR).
Registration, Login, and User Account
Users can create a user account. During registration, users are informed of the required mandatory information, which is processed for the purposes of providing the user account on the basis of contractual performance obligations. The processed data includes, in particular, login information (username, password, and an email address).
In the context of using our registration and login functions as well as the use of the user account, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. Storage takes place on the basis of our legitimate interests as well as those of the users in protection against misuse and other unauthorized use. As a rule, this data is not disclosed to third parties unless this is necessary for the pursuit of our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so.
Users may be informed by email about events relevant to their user account, such as technical changes.
Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and posts and the information relating to them, such as authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Log data (e.g. log files relating to logins or the retrieval of data or access times.).
Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; organizational and administrative procedures. Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Storage and Deletion”. Deletion after termination.
Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:
Deletion of data after termination: If users have terminated their user account, their data relating to the user account will be deleted, subject to legal permission, obligation, or user consent; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR).
No retention obligation for data: It is the responsibility of users to back up their data before the end of the contract if termination has taken place. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all of the user’s data stored during the contract period; Legal bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR).
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 insofar as this is necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. Otherwise, we refer to the information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium within the framework of these privacy notices.
Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and posts and the information relating to them, such as authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Metadata, communication data, and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time details, identification numbers, persons involved).
Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form). Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Storage and Deletion”.
Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
Newsletters and Electronic Notifications
We send newsletters, emails, and further electronic notifications (hereinafter “newsletter”) only with the consent of the recipients or on the basis of a legal basis. Where the contents of the newsletter are described in the context of registration, these contents are decisive for the users’ consent. As a rule, it is sufficient to provide your email address in order to subscribe to our newsletter. However, in order to be able to offer you a personalized service, we may ask you to provide your name for a personal salutation in the newsletter or for further information if this is necessary for the purpose of the newsletter.
Deletion and restriction of processing: We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before deleting them, in order to be able to prove 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 at the same time confirmed. In the case of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the email address solely for this purpose in a suppression list (so-called “blocklist”).
The logging of the registration process takes place on the basis of our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving its proper course. If we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure dispatch system.
Contents:
Information about us, our services, promotions, and offers.
Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); metadata, communication data, and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time details, identification numbers, persons involved). Usage data (e.g. page views and dwell time, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
Data subjects: Communication partners. Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post). Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.
Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR).
Option to object (opt-out): You can cancel receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e. withdraw your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to cancel the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or you can otherwise use one of the contact options specified above, preferably email, for this purpose.
Further information on processing operations, procedures, and services:
Condition for the use of free services: Consent to the sending of mailings may be made a condition for the use of free services (e.g. access to certain content or participation in certain promotions). If users wish to use the free service without registering for the newsletter, we ask you to contact us.
Dispatch via SMS: The electronic notifications may also be sent as SMS text messages (or are sent exclusively via SMS if the authorization for dispatch, e.g. consent, only covers dispatch via SMS); Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR).
Promotional Communication via Email, Post, Fax, or Telephone
We process personal data for purposes of promotional communication, which may take place via various channels, such as email, telephone, post, or fax, in accordance with the statutory provisions.
Recipients have the right to withdraw consent granted at any time or to object to promotional communication at any time free of charge via the contact options mentioned above.
After withdrawal or objection, we store the data required to prove the previous authorization for contact or dispatch for up to three years after the end of the year in which the withdrawal or objection was made, on the basis of our legitimate interests. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. On the basis of the legitimate interest in permanently observing the withdrawal or objection of users, we also store the data necessary to avoid renewed contact (e.g. depending on the communication channel, email address, telephone number, name).
Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g. full name, residential address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g. postal and email addresses or telephone numbers). Content data (e.g. textual or visual messages and posts and the information relating to them, such as authorship or time of creation).
Data subjects: Communication partners.
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post); marketing. Sales promotion.
Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General Information on Data Storage and Deletion”.
Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
Amendment and Updating
We ask you to regularly inform yourself about the contents of our privacy policy. We adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require an act of cooperation on your part (e.g. consent) or other individual notification.
Insofar as we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organizations in this privacy policy, please note that the addresses may change over time and we ask you to verify the information before contacting them.
Definitions
In this section, you will find an overview of the terminology used in this privacy policy. Insofar as the terms are legally defined, their legal definitions apply. The following explanations, on the other hand, are primarily intended to aid understanding.
Inventory data: Inventory data includes essential information required for the identification and administration of contractual partners, user accounts, profiles, and similar assignments. This data may include, among other things, personal and demographic information such as names, contact details (addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses), dates of birth, and specific identifiers (user IDs). Inventory data forms the basis for any formal interaction between persons and services, institutions, or systems by enabling clear assignment and communication.
Content data: Content data includes information generated in the course of creating, editing, and publishing content of all kinds. This category of data may include texts, images, videos, audio files, and other multimedia content published on various platforms and media. Content data is not limited to the actual content itself but also includes metadata providing information about the content, such as tags, descriptions, author information, and publication dates.
Contact data: Contact data is essential information that enables communication with persons or organizations. It includes, among other things, telephone numbers, postal addresses, and email addresses, as well as means of communication such as social media handles and instant messaging identifiers.
Metadata, communication data, and procedural data: Metadata, communication data, and procedural data are categories that include information on the manner in which data is processed, transmitted, and managed. Metadata, also known as data about data, includes information describing the context, origin, and structure of other data. It may include information on file size, date of creation, the author of a document, and revision histories. Communication data records the exchange of information between users via various channels, such as email traffic, call logs, messages on social networks, and chat histories, including the persons involved, timestamps, and transmission paths. Procedural data describes the processes and workflows within systems or organizations, including workflow documentation, logs of transactions and activities, and audit logs used to trace and verify operations.
Usage data: Usage data refers to information that records how users interact with digital products, services, or platforms. This data includes a wide range of information showing how users use applications, which functions they prefer, how long they remain on certain pages, and which paths they take through an application. Usage data may also include frequency of use, timestamps of activities, IP addresses, device information, and location data. It is particularly valuable for analyzing user behavior, optimizing user experiences, personalizing content, and improving products or services. In addition, usage data plays a decisive role in identifying trends, preferences, and possible problem areas within digital offerings.
Personal data: “Personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter “data subject”); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g. cookie), or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.
Log data: Log data is information about events or activities that have been logged in a system or network. This data typically contains information such as timestamps, IP addresses, user actions, error messages, and other details about the use or operation of a system. Log data is often used to analyze system problems, monitor security, or generate performance reports.
Controller: “Controller” means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
Processing: “Processing” means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and covers practically any handling of data, whether collection, evaluation, storage, transmission, or deletion.
Contract data: Contract data is specific information relating to the formalization of an agreement between two or more parties. It documents the conditions under which services or products are provided, exchanged, or sold. This category of data is essential for the administration and fulfillment of contractual obligations and includes both the identification of the contracting parties and the specific terms and conditions of the agreement. Contract data may include the start and end dates of the contract, the type of agreed services or products, pricing arrangements, payment terms, termination rights, renewal options, and special conditions or clauses. It serves as the legal basis for the relationship between the parties and is crucial for clarifying rights and obligations, enforcing claims, and resolving disputes.
Payment data: Payment data includes all information required to process payment transactions between buyers and sellers. This data is of decisive importance for electronic commerce, online banking, and any other form of financial transaction. It includes details such as credit card numbers, bank details, payment amounts, transaction data, verification numbers, and billing information. Payment data may also include information on payment status, chargebacks, authorizations, and fees.