Cookies

1 GENERAL

1.1 WHAT ARE COOKIES?

We use cookies and other web technologies on our website to make your visit attractive and to enable the use of certain functions. Many useful functions on our website cannot be implemented without the use of cookies.

A cookie is a small file that stores Internet settings. It is loaded from the Internet browser the first time you visit a website. The next time you visit this website, the cookie and the information stored therein will either be transmitted to the website that generated it (first party cookie) or to another website to which it belongs (third party cookie). Thus the website recognizes that it has already been visited with this browser. Other web technologies are used for similar purposes, so that we also refer to these technologies as "cookies" in this context.

Most of the cookies we use are deleted from your hard disk at the end of the browser session (so-called session cookies). Other cookies remain on your computer and enable us to recognize your computer upon your next visit (so-called permanent cookies).

1.2 COOKIE CATEGORIES

Depending on their function and intended use, cookies can be divided into four categories: cookies required for operation, performance cookies, functional cookies or cookies for marketing purposes:

  • Cookies required for operation are needed so that you can navigate on our website and use the basic functions of the website, such as assignment of anonymous session IDs.
  • Performance cookies are used to improve the user-friendliness of a website. They collect information about the use of our website, e.g. information about the Internet browser and the operating system; the domain name of the website from which you came, number of visits, average length of stay, pages accessed. However, these cookies do not store any information that allows for personal identification of the user.
  • Functional cookies enable a website to store information already provided (such as user name, language selection or your location) and to offer the user improved, more personalized functions. Functional cookies are also used to enable requested functions such as video playback.
  • Cookies for marketing purposes are used to offer relevant, adapted content to the user. They are also used to limit the frequency of an ad and to measure and control the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. They register whether or not a website has been visited and what content has been used. This information may be shared with third parties, e.g. advertising partners.
 
1.3 MANAGING COOKIES IN YOUR BROWSER

Most Internet browsers allow you to manage the use of cookies, e.g. to accept or reject all cookies or to accept only certain cookies. You can also set your browser to inform you when cookies are placed. This makes the use of cookies transparent for you. You will find the options for managing and deleting cookies in the documentation included in the respective browser.

If cookies are deactivated for our website, then it may no longer be possible to use all of the functions of the website in full.

1.4 CONSENT AND REVOCATION

If you do not deactivate cookies in your browser and use our website, then you agree to the use of cookies for the marketing purposes described here. You can revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, e.g. by refusing the acceptance of cookies in your browser settings. The legal basis is provided by Article 6 Clause 1 lit. a) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR].

1.5 OBJECTION

If you wish to object to the complete analysis of your surfing behavior or to cancel your objection, then you can also adjust these settings here:
https://www.youronlinechoices.eu
https://www.networkadvertising.org/choices

1.6 INFORMATION AND RIGHTS OF THE DATA SUBJECT

If cookies collect personal data, then please also note the information contained in our Data Protection Statement about us and your rights as a data subject.


2 USE OF COOKIES

2.1 WEBSITE OPERATION

For the operation of our website we use cookies that are required for operation and functional cookies that guarantee the necessary functions of the website. For example, we need cookies for the following functions: e.g. memorizing search terms.

The data collected in this manner is not used to create user profiles. These cookies are usually only stored on your terminal during the current browser session. However, some elements of our website require that the invoking browser can be identified even after a page change.

Your consent is not required for the use of such cookies. The legal basis is Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit. f) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR]. The legitimate interest lies in providing the corresponding functions of our website.

2.2 GOOGLE ANALYTICS

For website analysis we use the technology of Google (Universal) Analytics, a service of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA ("Google").

Google Analytics uses cookies for marketing and optimization purposes. The following data is processed: Online identification (including cookie identifiers), IP address and device identifiers, customer assigned identifiers.

These data can be used to create user profiles under a pseudonym. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, Google will shorten the IP address in advance within Member States of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. The IP address transmitted by your browser in the context of Google Analytics is not merged with other Google data.

Google (Universal) Analytics is a service of Google LLC (www.google.co.uk). Google LLC has its registered office in the USA. The European Commission has enacted an adequacy decision for this State, the EU-US Privacy Shield, in accordance with which LLC is certified. A current certificate is available here:
https://www.privacyshield.gov/list

You can prevent the storage of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser software. Furthermore, you can also prevent Google Analytics from using your data by downloading and installing browser add-ons to disable Google Analytics:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en

As an alternative to the browser plug-in, you can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data by means of an opt-out cookie. To prevent Universal Analytics from collecting data across different devices, you must opt-out on all systems used. If you click here, then the opt-out cookie will be set:
Opt out Google Analytics

Please note that Google has its own data protection guidelines that are independent of our own. Learn more:
Google Data Protection Regulations

2.3 SOCIAL MEDIA PLUG-INS

We do not currently use any social media plug-ins. By clicking on the appropriate pictograms, you can reach our websites on Facebook or Youtube.

However, we include content from Facebook and Youtube at different places on our website. Each time a page is accessed that contains content from these social networks, a connection is made to the providers' servers and data is transmitted to them or cookies are used by the providers. We point out that we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data, web technology used and their use by the respective provider.

Facebook is a service of Facebook Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland. More information about privacy can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation

Youtube is a service of YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. For more information about privacy, visit:
policies.google.com/privacy