Cookie Policy

What is log data?

Every time you use our digital offerings, certain data is generated for technical reasons. This data is temporarily stored in log files, the so-called log data. Depending on this, it is e.g. the following technical data:

• IP address of the requesting end device,
• Information about your internet service provider,
• Information about the operating system of your end device (tablet, PC, smartphone, etc.),
• Information on the referring URL,
• details of the browser used,
• date and time of access, and
• Content accessed when visiting the website.

The processing of this data serves the purpose of enabling the use of our digital offerings (connection establishment) and ensuring their functionality, guaranteeing system security and stability and improving our digital offerings, but also for statistical purposes.

We may also evaluate your IP address together with the other log data and any other data we may have in the event of attacks on the IT infrastructure or other unauthorised or abusive use of the websites for the purpose of clarification and defence and also use it for identification in the context of any criminal proceedings and also process it for civil or criminal proceedings against the persons concerned.

What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are files that your browser automatically saves on your terminal device when you visit our digital offers. Cookies each contain a unique identification number. This allows us to distinguish individual visitors or the devices they use from others, but usually not to identify them. Depending on the intended use, cookies contain further information, e.g. about pages accessed and the duration of the visit to a page. On the one hand, we use session cookies, which are deleted again when the browser is closed, and on the other hand, permanent cookies, which remain stored for a certain period after the browser is closed (usually between a few days and two years) and are used to recognise visitors or their devices on a subsequent visit.

We may also use similar technologies. These include, for example, pixel tags, fingerprints and other technologies to store data in the browser. "Pixel tags" are small invisible image data or program code that are loaded from a server via a specific address and transmit information to the operator of the server by calling up this address, e.g. whether and when a website was visited. "Fingerprints" are information about the characteristics of your terminal device or your browser, which are collected when using a digital offer and which make your terminal device more or less clearly distinguishable from other devices. Most browsers also support other technologies for storing data in the browser, similar to cookies, which we may also use (e.g. "web storage").

How can cookies and similar technologies be disabled?

When accessing our website, you have the option of activating or deactivating certain categories of cookies via a Cookie Preference Center. Further information on the cookies and similar technologies that we use, in particular on opting out, can be found in the Cookie Preference Center.

Furthermore, you can configure your browser in the settings so that it blocks certain cookies or similar technologies or deletes existing cookies and other data stored in the browser. You can also enhance your browser with software (so-called "plug-ins") that blocks tracking by certain third parties. You can find out more about this in the help pages of your browser (usually under the keyword "data protection"). Please note that our websites may no longer function fully if you block cookies and similar technologies.

In some of our mobile applications, you also have the option of blocking similar technologies using opt-out buttons.

What cookies and similar technologies do we use?

We use the following types of cookies and similar technologies:

• Necessary cookies: Necessary cookies are required for a website and its functions to be used. For example, these cookies ensure that you can move between pages without losing the information entered in a form or the products or services placed in a shopping cart.
• Performance cookies: Performance cookies collect information about how a website is used and allow us to perform analytics, such as which pages are most popular and how visitors move around a website. These cookies are used to simplify and speed up the visit to the website and generally improve the user experience.
• Functional cookies: Functional cookies allow us to provide advanced functionality and display personalised content. These cookies allow us, for example, to save information you have already provided (e.g. language selection) or to show you products that you might also like based on articles you have viewed.
• Marketing cookies: Marketing cookies help us and our advertising partners to target you on our websites and on websites of third parties with advertisements for products or services that might be of interest to you, or to display our advertisements during your further internet use after visiting our websites.

You can find a list of the cookies and similar technologies used in our Cookie Preference Center.

How do we use cookies and similar technologies from other companies?

The cookies and similar technologies we use may originate from ourselves or from third party companies, for example where we use third party services. Third-party providers may also be located outside Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA), provided that the protection of your personal data is adequately ensured.

For example, we use analytics services to analyse the use of our websites in order to optimise them and personalise content or their presentation. In addition, when we use cookies and similar technologies from third parties, they may target you with personalised advertising on our websites - or on other websites and social networks that also work with that third party - and measure how effective advertisements are (e.g. whether you arrived at our website via an advertisement and what actions you then take on our website).

Third party providers may record your use of the relevant website in the process. These recordings may be combined by the respective provider with similar information from other websites. The behaviour of certain users can thus be recorded across multiple websites and across multiple end devices. The respective provider can often also use this data for its own purposes, e.g. for personalised advertising on its own website and on other websites that it supplies with advertising. If users are registered with the provider, the provider can assign the usage data to the relevant person. The processing of such personal data here is carried out by the provider under its responsibility and in accordance with its own data protection regulations.

Below you will find detailed information on the most important providers we use:

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, an analysis service of Google LLC (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA, USA) and Google Ireland Ltd. (Google Building Gordon House, Barrow St, Dublin 4, Ireland; both together "Google", whereby Google Ireland Ltd. is responsible for the processing of personal data) on our websites. Google uses cookies and similar technologies to collect certain information about the behaviour of individual users on or in the relevant website and the end device used for this purpose (tablet, PC, smartphone, etc.) (e.g. how often you have opened our website, how many purchases have been made or what your interests are, as well as data about the end device you are using, such as the operating system). You can find more information about this under this link.

We have configured the service in such a way that the IP addresses of visitors to the websites are shortened by Google within Europe before being forwarded to the USA, so that they cannot be traced. Google provides us with reports and in this sense can be considered our order processor. However, Google also processes certain data for its own purposes. Under certain circumstances, Google can draw conclusions about the identity of visitors to the websites on the basis of the data collected and therefore create personal profiles and link the data obtained with any existing Google accounts of these persons. Information on the data protection of Google Analytics can be found here, and if you have a Google account yourself, you can find further details here.

Google Maps

We use the Google Maps (API) mapping service provided by Google Ireland Ltd, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google"). Google Maps is a web service for displaying interactive (land) maps in order to visually present geographical information.

When you call up those 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 involve transmission to the servers of Google LLC. in the USA. If you are logged in to Google, your data will be directly assigned to your account. If you do not wish your data to be associated with your Google profile, 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 for the purpose of displaying personalised advertising, market research and/or tailoring Google products to your needs. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles, and 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, you also have the option of completely deactivating 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.

You can find Google's terms of use at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/terms/regional.htm and the additional terms of use for Google Maps at https://www.google.com/intl/de_US/help/terms_maps.html . You can also find detailed information on data protection in connection with the use of Google Maps here.

Google Fonts

We use Google Fonts on our website. Google Fonts are Google fonts from Google Inc. The company responsible for the European region is Google Ireland Ltd, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, Ireland.

In order to prevent the collection and forwarding of data to Google and the USA, we have integrated Google Fonts locally on our web servers. This means that when you visit our website, no connection is established to Google servers and no personal data is passed on from you to Google.

Google reCAPTCHA

In order to prevent misuse of the newsletter service, our newsletter mailing service uses reCAPTCHA from Google Inc, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA. The use of this service makes it possible to distinguish whether the corresponding input is of human origin or is misused by an undesired, automated machine processing.

The service is used in accordance with Google's privacy policy and terms of use. By using reCAPTCHA, data is transmitted to Google, which Google uses to determine whether the visitor is a human or a (spam)bot. You can find out what data Google collects and what it is used for here. You can find Google's terms of use here.

YouTube Videos

We use the YouTube service to embed videos on our website. YouTube is a video platform that belongs to the holding company Alphabet Inc. and is operated by YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. When playing the video content, a connection is established to the YouTube servers. This tells YouTube which pages you are visiting. If you are logged into your YouTube account, YouTube can assign your surfing behaviour directly to your account. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account first.

If a YouTube video is started, the provider uses cookies that collect information about user behaviour.

If you have deactivated the saving of cookies for the Google Ads programme, you will not have to expect any such cookies when watching YouTube videos. However, YouTube also stores non-personal usage information in other cookies. If you would like to prevent this, you must block the storage of cookies in your browser.

Further information on data protection at "YouTube" can be found in the provider's data protection statement at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/

Vimeo

Zur Darstellung von Videos setzen wir Vimeo ein. Hierbei handelt es sich um einen Video-Plattform-Dienst der Vimeo LLC, 555 West 18 th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA.

If you visit a page of our website in which a Vimeo video is embedded, a connection to the Vimeo servers in the USA is established to display the video. For technical reasons, it is necessary for Vimeo to process your IP address. In addition, the date and time of your visit to our website as well as browser settings and other device information are also recorded.

If you have an account with Vimeo and are logged in at the same time as your visit, Vimeo may assign the information collected in this way to your personal user account there. If you wish to prevent this, you must either log out of Vimeo before visiting our website or configure your Vimeo user account accordingly.

If you do not agree to this processing, you have the option of preventing the installation of cookies by making the appropriate settings in your internet browser. Details on this can be found above under the item "Cookies".

Further information regarding the collection and use of data by Vimeo as well as your rights and options for protecting your privacy can be found at http://vimeo.com/privacy.

TwentyThree

To display videos, we use TwentyThree, a video platform service of the company TwentyThree ApS, Sortedams Dossering 7E, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.

When playing the video content that is integrated via TwentyThree, a cookie is placed on your end device by the provider and your personal data, such as your IP address and information on the use of the video content in question, may be collected and evaluated by the provider.

If you do not agree to the data processing, you have the option of preventing the installation of cookies by making the appropriate settings in your internet browser. Details on this can be found above under the item "Cookies".

How do we use social media presences?

We may operate our own websites on social networks and other third-party platforms (e.g. LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). If you communicate with us there or comment on or disseminate content from us, we collect information about this and process it in accordance with this privacy policy. We have the right, but not the obligation, to check content before or after it is published and to delete content without notification, insofar as this is technically possible, or to report it to the provider of the relevant platform. In the event of a breach of decency and behavioural rules, we may also report the user account concerned to the provider of the platform for blocking or deletion.

When visiting our social media sites, data e.g. on your user behaviour may also be transmitted directly to or collected by the provider concerned. The relevant provider may process this data together with other data already known to it, e.g. for marketing and market research purposes and for personalising platform content. Insofar as we are jointly responsible with the provider for certain processing, we will enter into a corresponding agreement with the provider, the essential content of which you can find out from the provider. For further information on data processing by social network providers, please refer to the data protection provisions of the relevant social networks.

Changes to this cookie information

This cookie information may be adapted over time, in particular if we change our data processing or if new legal provisions become applicable. In general, the cookie information in the version current at the start of the processing in question applies to data processing.

The original version of the cookie information is in German. The translated versions only serve the purpose of better comprehensibility. In the event of contradictions, the German text shall take precedence.

Version: June 2023