Privacy Policy

1) Introduction and Contact Details of the Controller

1.1 Thank you for visiting this website and for your interest. In the following, we will inform you about how we handle your personal data when you use our website. Personal data is any data with which you can be personally identified.

1.2 The controller for data processing on this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is Guido Gerding, company Guido Gerding, Heerdestrasse 3, 48149 Münster, Germany, Tel.: +492516867211, E-Mail: gerding@epigeo.com. The controller responsible for the processing of personal data is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.

2) Data collection when visiting our website

2.1 When you use our website for informational purposes only, i.e., if you do not register or otherwise provide us with information, we only collect data that your browser transmits to the page server (so-called "server log files"). When you visit our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary for us to display the website to you:

Our visited website
Date and time at the time of access
Amount of data sent in bytes
Source/reference from which you came to the page
Browser used
Operating system used
IP address used (if applicable: in anonymized form)

The processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website. The data will not be passed on or used in any other way. However, we reserve the right to check the server log files subsequently if there are concrete indications of illegal use.

2.2 For security reasons and to protect the transmission of personal data and other confidential content (e.g. orders or inquiries to the person responsible), this website uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the character string "https://" and the lock symbol in your browser line.

3) Hosting & Content Delivery Network

For the hosting of our website and the display of the page content, we use a provider who provides his services himself or through selected sub-contractors exclusively on servers within the European Union.

All data collected on our website is processed on these servers.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our site visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

4) Cookies

In order to make visiting our website attractive and to enable the use of certain functions, we use cookies, i.e. small text files that are stored on your end device. Some of these cookies are automatically deleted after closing the browser (so-called "session cookies"), while others remain on your end device for a longer period of time and enable the storage of page settings (so-called "persistent cookies"). In the latter case, you can find the storage duration in the overview of your web browser's cookie settings.

If personal data is also processed by individual cookies used by us, the processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR either for the performance of the contract, in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR in the case of consent given, or in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR to protect our legitimate interests in the best possible functionality of the website and a customer-friendly and effective design of the site visit.

You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and can decide individually on their acceptance or exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general.

Please note that if you do not accept cookies, the functionality of our website may be limited.

5) Contact

When contacting us (e.g. via contact form or e-mail), personal data is collected. Which data is collected in the case of using a contact form can be seen from the respective contact form. This data is stored and used exclusively for the purpose of answering your request or for contacting you and the associated technical administration.

The legal basis for the processing of this data is our legitimate interest in answering your request in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. If your contact is aimed at concluding a contract, the additional legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR. Your data will be deleted after final processing of your request. This is the case if it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter in question has been finally clarified and provided that there are no statutory retention obligations to the contrary.

6) Online Marketing

Google AdSense

This website uses Google AdSense, a web advertising service of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google"). Google AdSense uses so-called cookies, which are text files stored on your computer that enable an analysis of your use of the website. In addition, Google AdSense also uses so-called "web beacons" (small invisible graphics) to collect information, through the use of which simple actions such as visitor traffic on the website can be recorded, collected and evaluated. The information generated by the cookie and/or web beacon (including your IP address) about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server and stored there. This may also result in a transfer to the servers of Google LLC. in the USA.

Google uses the information obtained in this way to evaluate your usage behavior with regard to the AdSense ads. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google AdSense will not be merged with other Google data. The information collected by Google may be transferred to third parties if this is required by law and/or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google.
All of the processing described above, in particular the reading of information on the end device used via cookies and/or web beacons, will only be carried out if you have given us your express consent to do so in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. Without this consent, Google AdSense will not be used during your visit to the site.

You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service in the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

For data transfers to the USA, the provider has joined the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which ensures compliance with the European level of data protection on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google/intl/de/privacy/ and https://www.google.de/policies/privacy/

7) Web analytics services

Google Tag Manager

This website uses the "Google Tag Manager", a service of the following provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (hereinafter: "Google").

The Google Tag Manager provides a technical basis for bundling various web applications, including tracking and analysis services, and calibrating, controlling and linking them via a uniform user interface. The Google Tag Manager itself does not store any information on user end devices or read it out. The service also does not carry out any independent data analyses. However, when a page is called up, the Google Tag Manager transmits your IP address to Google and may store it there. A transfer to the servers of Google LLC. in the USA is also possible.

This processing will only be carried out if you have given us your express consent to do so in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. Without this consent, Google Tag Manager will not be used during your visit to the site. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your revocation, please deactivate this service in the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our site visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

Further legal information on Google Tag Manager can be found at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/privacy/ and https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de&gl=de

8) Page functionalities

8.1 Google Maps

This website uses an online map service from the following provider: Google Maps (API) from Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google").

Google Maps is a web service for displaying interactive (land) maps to visually represent geographical information. By using this service, our location will be displayed to you and any journey will be made easier.

As soon as you call up the sub-pages in which the Google Maps map is integrated, information about your use of our website (such as your IP address) is transmitted to Google servers and stored there; this may also result in a transfer to the servers of Google LLC. in the USA. This happens regardless of whether Google provides a user account through which you are logged in or whether a user account exists. If you are logged in to Google, your data will be assigned directly to your account. If you do not want your profile to be associated with Google, you must log out before activating the button. Google stores your data (even for users who are not logged in) as usage profiles and evaluates them.

The collection, storage and evaluation are carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR on the basis of Google's legitimate interest in displaying personalized advertising, market research and/or the needs-based design of Google websites. You have a right to object to the creation of these user profiles, whereby you must contact Google to exercise this right. If you do not agree to the future transmission of your data to Google in the context of the use of Google Maps, it is also possible to completely deactivate the Google Maps web service by switching off the JavaScript application in your browser. Google Maps and thus also the map display on this website can then not be used.

Insofar as legally required, we have obtained your consent for the processing of your data as described above in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your revocation, please follow the procedure for objection described above.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google/intl/de/privacy/

8.2 OpenStreetMap

This website uses an online map service from the following provider: OpenStreetMap Foundation, St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK

The online map service is a tool for displaying interactive (land) maps to visually represent geographical information. By using this service, our location will be displayed to you and any geolocation will be made easier.

As soon as you call up the sub-pages in which the provider's map is integrated, information about your use of our website (such as your IP address) is transmitted to the provider's servers and stored there.

Your personal data is processed in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in the needs-based design of our website. If you do not agree to the future transmission of your data to the provider, it is possible to completely deactivate the provider's online map service by switching off the JavaScript application in your browser. The online map service on this website can then no longer be used.

In the case of data transfer to the provider's location, an adequate level of data protection is guaranteed by an adequacy decision of the European Commission.

8.3 Google Web Fonts

This site uses so-called web fonts from the following provider for the uniform display of fonts: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland

When you call up a page, your browser loads the required web fonts into your browser cache in order to display texts and fonts correctly and establishes a direct connection to the provider's servers. In doing so, certain browser information, including your IP address, is transmitted to the provider.

Data may also be transmitted to: Google LLC, USA

The processing of personal data in the course of connecting to the provider of the fonts will only be carried out if you have given us your express consent to do so in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service via the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website. If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google/intl/de/privacy/

8.4 Google reCAPTCHA

On this website, we use the CAPTCHA service of the following provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland

Data may also be transmitted to: Google LLC, USA.

For the visual design of the captcha window, the provider uses "Google Fonts", i.e. fonts loaded from the internet by Google. No further information is processed here than that mentioned above, which is already transmitted to Google via the functionality of ReCaptcha.

The service checks whether an entry is made by a natural person or abusively by mechanical and automated processing, and blocks spam, DDoS attacks and similar automated malicious access. To ensure that an action is carried out by a human and not by an automated bot, the provider collects the IP address of the end device used, recognition data of the browser and operating system type used, as well as the date and duration of the visit, and transmits this to the provider's servers for evaluation. Cookies, i.e. small text files that are stored in the browser of the end device, may be used for this purpose.

If the processing described above is based on cookies, these will only be set if you have given us your express consent to do so in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by deactivating this service in the "Cookie Consent Tool" provided on the website.

If the processing described above is carried out without the use of cookies, the legal basis is our legitimate interest in determining individual personal responsibility on the internet and preventing abuse and spam in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR.

We have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our site visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

Further information on Google's privacy policy can be found here: https://business.safety.google/intl/de/privacy/

9) Tools and other

Cookie Consent Tool

This website uses a so-called "Cookie Consent Tool" to obtain effective user consent for cookies and cookie-based applications that require consent. The "Cookie Consent Tool" is displayed to users when they visit the site in the form of an interactive user interface, on which consent for certain cookies and/or cookie-based applications can be given by ticking a box. By using the tool, all cookies/services requiring consent are only loaded if the respective user gives corresponding consent by ticking a box. This ensures that such cookies are only set on the user's respective end device if consent has been given.

The tool sets technically necessary cookies to save your cookie preferences. As a rule, personal user data is not processed.

If, in individual cases, personal data (such as the IP address) is processed for the purpose of storing, assigning or logging cookie settings, this is done in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in a legally compliant, user-specific and user-friendly consent management for cookies and thus in a legally compliant design of our website.

A further legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. c GDPR. As the controller, we are subject to the legal obligation to make the use of technically unnecessary cookies dependent on the respective user consent.

Where necessary, we have concluded a data processing agreement with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our site visitors and prohibits unauthorized disclosure to third parties.

You can find further information on the operator and the setting options of the Cookie Consent Tool directly in the corresponding user interface on our website.

10) Rights of the data subject

10.1 The applicable data protection law grants you the following rights of the data subject (rights of access and intervention) with regard to the processing of your personal data by the controller, whereby reference is made to the legal basis cited for the respective exercise requirements:

Right of access pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR;
Right to rectification pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR;
Right to erasure pursuant to Art. 17 GDPR;
Right to restriction of processing pursuant to Art. 18 GDPR;
Right to information pursuant to Art. 19 GDPR;
Right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR;
Right to withdraw consent given pursuant to Art. 7 (3) GDPR;
Right to lodge a complaint pursuant to Art. 77 GDPR.

10.2 RIGHT TO OBJECT

IF, IN THE CONTEXT OF A BALANCING OF INTERESTS, WE PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA ON THE BASIS OF OUR OVERRIDING LEGITIMATE INTEREST, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THIS PROCESSING WITH EFFECT FOR THE FUTURE FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.

IF YOU MAKE USE OF YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT, WE WILL STOP PROCESSING THE DATA CONCERNED. HOWEVER, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE PROCESSING IF WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR IF THE PROCESSING SERVES THE ASSERTION, EXERCISE OR DEFENSE OF LEGAL CLAIMS.

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED BY US FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING. YOU MAY EXERCISE THE OBJECTION AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

IF YOU MAKE USE OF YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT, WE WILL STOP PROCESSING THE DATA CONCERNED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES.

11) Duration of storage of personal data

The duration of the storage of personal data is determined by the respective legal basis, the purpose of the processing and - if relevant - additionally by the respective statutory retention period (e.g. commercial and tax retention periods).

When processing personal data on the basis of express consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR, the data concerned will be stored until you revoke your consent.

If there are statutory retention periods for data that are processed in the context of legal or quasi-legal obligations on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR, this data will be routinely deleted after the retention periods have expired, provided that it is no longer required for the performance or initiation of the contract and/or we have no legitimate interest in continuing to store it.

When processing personal data on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, this data will be stored until you exercise your right to object pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims.

When processing personal data for the purpose of direct marketing on the basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, this data will be stored until you exercise your right to object pursuant to Art. 21 (2) GDPR.

Unless otherwise stated in the other information in this declaration on specific processing situations, stored personal data will otherwise be deleted when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or otherwise processed.

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