Privacy Policy

In accordance with the statutory provisions of data protection law (in particular the new version of the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)), we inform you below about the type, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data by our company. This privacy policy also applies to our websites and social media profiles. With regard to the definition of terms such as "personal data" or "processing", we refer to Art. 4 GDPR.

Name and contact details of the controller(s)
Our controller (hereinafter "controller") within the meaning of Art. 4(7) GDPR is

AddMeaning GmbH
Marienstraße 41
70178 Stuttgart, Germany
Managing Director: Jessica Freifrau von Malchus
Commercial register no.: HRB 792245
Register court: Stuttgart
E-mail address: j.malchus@add-meaning.com

Data protection officer
Jessica Freifrau von Malchus
Marienstraße 41
70178 Stuttgart, Germany
j.malchus@add-meaning.com

Types of data, purposes of processing and categories of data subjects
Below we inform you about the type, scope and purpose of the collection, processing and use of personal data.

1. Types of data that we process
Usage data (access times, websites visited, etc.), inventory data (name, address, etc.), contact data
(telephone number, e-mail, fax, etc.), content data (text entries, videos, photos, etc.), communication data
(IP address etc.),

2. Purposes of processing in accordance with Art. 13 para. 1 c) GDPR
Processing of contracts, Evidence purposes / preservation of evidence, Technical and economic optimisation of the website, Fulfilment of contractual obligations, Optimisation and statistical evaluation of our services, Improving the user experience, Making the website user-friendly, Economic operation of advertising and website, Marketing / sales / advertising, Compilation of statistics, Prevention of SPAM and abuse, Processing of an application procedure, Customer service and customer care, Handling contact enquiries, Providing websites with functions and content, Security measures, Uninterrupted, secure operation of our website,

3. Categories of data subjects pursuant to Art. 13 para. 1 e) GDPR
Visitors/users of the website, customers, interested parties, applicants,
The data subjects are collectively referred to as "users".

Legal basis for the processing of personal data
Below we inform you about the legal basis for the processing of personal data:

1. If we have obtained your consent for the processing of personal data, Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR is the legal basis.

2. If the processing is necessary for the fulfilment of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures which are carried out at your request, Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) DS-GVO is the legal basis.

3. If the processing is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation to which we are subject (e.g. statutory retention obligations), Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR is the legal basis.

4. If processing is necessary in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person, Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. d) GDPR is the legal basis.

5. If the processing is necessary to protect our legitimate interests or those of a third party and your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms do not prevail in this respect, Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR is the legal basis.

Disclosure of personal data to third parties and processors
We do not pass on any data to third parties without your consent. Should this nevertheless be the case, the data will be passed on on the basis of the aforementioned legal bases, e.g. when passing on data to online payment providers for the fulfilment of a contract or due to a court order or due to a legal obligation to hand over the data for the purpose of criminal prosecution, to avert danger or to enforce intellectual property rights.
We also use processors (external service providers, e.g. for web hosting of our websites and databases) to process your data. If data is passed on to the processors as part of an order processing agreement, this is always done in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR. We select our processors carefully, monitor them regularly and have been granted the right to issue instructions regarding the data. In addition, the processors must have taken suitable technical and organisational measures and comply with the comply with the data protection regulations according to BDSG n.F. and GDPR

Data transfer to third countries
The adoption of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has created a standardised basis for data protection in Europe. Your data is therefore primarily processed by companies to which the GDPR applies. However, if the processing is carried out by third parties outside the European Union or the European Economic Area, they must fulfil the special requirements of Art. 44 ff GDPR. This means that the processing takes place on the basis of special guarantees, such as the officially recognised determination by the EU Commission of a level of data protection corresponding to the EU or compliance with officially recognised special contractual obligations, the so-called "standard contractual clauses". Insofar as we obtain your express consent to the transfer of data to the USA due to the ineffectiveness of the so-called "Privacy Shield", in accordance with Art. 49 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR, we would like to point out the risk of secret access by US authorities and the use of the data for surveillance purposes, possibly without legal remedies for EU citizens.

Deletion of data and storage period
Unless expressly stated in this privacy policy, your personal data will be deleted or blocked as soon as you withdraw your consent to the processing or the purpose for the storage no longer applies or the data is no longer required for the purpose, unless its further storage is necessary for evidence purposes or there are statutory retention obligations to the contrary. This includes, for example, commercial law obligations to retain business letters in accordance with Section 257 (1) HGB (6 years) and tax law obligations to retain documents in accordance with Section 147 (1) AO (10 years). If the prescribed retention period expires, your data will be blocked or deleted unless storage is still required for the conclusion or fulfilment of a contract.

Existence of automated decision-making
We do not use automated decision-making or profiling.

Provision of our website and creation of log files

1. If you only use our website for informational purposes (i.e. no registration and also no other transmission of information), we only collect the personal data that your browser transmits to our server. If you wish to view our website, we collect the following data
- IP address;
- Internet service provider of the user;
- Date and time of access;
- browser type;
- language and browser version;
- Content of the request;
- Time zone;
- Access status/HTTP status code;
- Amount of data;
- Websites from which the request originates;
- operating system.
This data is not stored together with your other personal data.

2. This data serves the purpose of user-friendly, functional and secure delivery of our website to you with functions and content as well as their optimisation and statistical evaluation.

3. The legal basis for this is our legitimate interest in data processing in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR, which also lies in the above purposes.

4. For security reasons, we store this data in server log files for a storage period of 365 days. After this period has expired, they are automatically deleted, unless we need to retain them for evidence purposes in the event of attacks on the server infrastructure or other legal violations.

1. We use so-called cookies when you visit our website. Cookies are small text files that your Internet browser places and stores on your computer. When you visit our website again, these cookies provide information to automatically recognise you. Cookies also include so-called "user IDs", where user information is stored using pseudonymised profiles. When you visit our website, we inform you about the use of cookies for the aforementioned purposes and how you can object to this or prevent their storage ("opt-out") by means of a reference to our privacy policy.

A distinction is made between the following types of cookies:
- Necessary, essential cookies: Essential cookies are cookies that are absolutely necessary for the operation of the website in order to save certain functions of the website such as logins, shopping basket or user input, e.g. regarding the language of the website.
- Session cookies: Session cookies are required to recognise multiple use of an offer by the same user (e.g. if you have logged in to determine your login status). When you visit our site again, these cookies provide information to automatically recognise you. The information obtained in this way is used to optimise our services and make it easier for you to access our site. When you close the browser or log out, the session cookies are deleted.
- Persistent cookies: These cookies remain stored even after the browser is closed. They are used to store the login, to measure reach and for marketing purposes. They are automatically deleted after a specified period, which may vary depending on the cookie. You can delete the cookies at any time in the security settings of your browser.

- Cookies from third-party providers (third-party cookies, especially from advertisers): You can configure your browser settings according to your wishes and, for example, refuse to accept third-party cookies or all cookies. However, we would like to point out that you may then not be able to use all the functions of this website. Read more about these cookies in the respective privacy policies of the third-party providers.

2. Data categories: User data, cookie, user ID (inb. the pages visited, device information, access times and IP addresses).

3. Purposes of processing: The information obtained in this way serves the purpose of optimising our web offers technically and economically and to provide you with easier and more secure access to our website.

4. Legal bases: If we process your personal data with the help of cookies on the basis of your consent ("opt-in"), then Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR is the legal basis. Otherwise, we have a legitimate interest in the effective functionality, improvement and economic operation of the website, so that in this case Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR is the legal basis. The legal basis is also Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR if the cookies are set to initiate a contract, e.g. for orders.

5. Storage period/deletion: The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected. In the case of the collection of data for the provision of the website, this is the case when the respective session has ended.

Cookies are otherwise stored on your computer and transmitted from it to our website. As a user, you therefore have full control over the use of cookies. You can deactivate or restrict the transmission of cookies by changing the settings in your Internet browser. Cookies that have already been saved can be deleted at any time. This can also be done automatically. If cookies are deactivated for our website, it may no longer be possible to use all the functions of the website to their full extent.

Here you will find information on deleting cookies by browser:

Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647

Safari: https://support.apple.com/de-at/guide/safari/sfri11471/mac

Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/de/kb/cookies-und-website-daten-in-firefox-loschen

Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/de-at/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-deletemanage-
cookies

Microsoft Edge: https://support.microsoft.com/de-at/help/4027947/windows-delete-cookies

6. Objection and "opt-out": You can generally prevent the storage of cookies on your hard drive, regardless of consent or legal permission, by selecting "do not accept cookies" in your browser settings. However, this may result in a functional restriction of our offers. You can object to the use of cookies from third-party providers for advertising purposes via a so-called "opt-out" via this American website (https://optout.aboutads.info) or this European website (http://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/).

Cookie Consent Solutions
Usercentrics Consent Management Platform

1. We have integrated the Usercentrics Consent Management Platform (service provider:
Usercentrics GmbH, Rosental 4, 80331 Munich, Germany) as a consent management service.

2. Data categories and description of data processing: cookies, date and time of visit, device information, browser information, anonymised IP address, opt-in and opt-out data. This service enables us to obtain and document your consent to the storage of cookies. In addition, a cookie is stored in your browser in order to be able to assign the consent given or its revocation to you. Further information can be found below in the privacy policy of the data processor Usercentrics: https://usercentrics.com/privacy-policy/

3. Purposes of data processing: compliance with legal obligations, consent storage.

4. Legal bases: The legal basis for the processing of personal data is our legitimate interest in the above purposes pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR and the fulfilment of legal obligations pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c) GDPR.

5. Storage period: Storage of the data until you delete the CMP cookie in your browser yourself or the purpose for data storage no longer applies. The revocation document of a previously granted consent is stored for a period of three years. On the one hand, the retention is based on our accountability pursuant to Art. 5 para. 2 GDPR. This obliges us to comply with the processing of personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. On the other hand, retention is due to the regular limitation period of three years in accordance with Section 195 BGB. This limitation period begins at the end of the year in which the claim arose (Section 199 BGB). Consequently, the three-year limitation period begins at the end of 31 December and ends three years later at midnight on 31 December.

6. Data transfer/recipient category: CMP provider. We have therefore concluded an order processing contract with the data processor in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR.

Processing of contracts

1. We process inventory data (e.g. company, title/academic degree, names and addresses as well as contact data of users, e-mail), contract data (e.g. services used, names of contact persons) and payment data (e.g. bank details, payment history) for the purpose of fulfilling our contractual obligations (knowledge of who the contractual partner is; justification, content and execution of the contract; checking the plausibility of the data) and services (e.g. contacting customer service) in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit b) GDPR. The entries marked as mandatory in online forms are required for the conclusion of the contract.

2. This data will not be passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims (e.g. transfer to a lawyer for debt collection) or to fulfil the contract (e.g. transfer of data to payment providers) or there is a legal obligation to do so in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. c) GDPR.

3 We may also process the data you provide in order to inform you about other interesting products from our portfolio or to send you e-mails with technical information.

4. The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected. This is the case for inventory and contract data when the data is no longer required for the fulfilment of the contract and no more claims can be asserted under the contract because they are time-barred (warranty: two years / standard limitation period: three years). We are obliged by commercial and tax law to store your address, payment and order data for a period of ten years. However, we restrict processing after three years if the contract is terminated, i.e. your data will only be used to fulfil legal obligations. Information in the user account remains until it is deleted.

Contacting us by contact form / e-mail / fax / post

1. When contacting us by contact form, fax, post or e-mail, your data will be processed for the purpose of processing the contact enquiry.

2. The legal basis for the processing of the data is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR if you have given your consent. The legal basis for the processing of data transmitted in the course of a contact enquiry or e-mail, letter or fax is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR. The controller has a legitimate interest in the processing and storage of the data in order to be able to answer user enquiries, to preserve evidence for liability reasons and, if necessary, to be able to fulfil its statutory retention obligations for business letters. If the contact is aimed at the conclusion of a contract, the additional legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR.

3. We may store your details and contact request in our customer relationship management system ("CRM system") or a comparable system.

4. The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected. For the personal data from the input mask of the contact form and those sent by e-mail, this is the case when the respective conversation with you has ended. The conversation is ended when it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified. We store enquiries from users who have an account or contract with us for a period of two years after termination of the contract. In the case of statutory archiving obligations, the deletion takes place after their expiry: end of commercial law (6 years) and tax law (10 years) retention obligation.

5. You have the option at any time to revoke your consent to the processing of personal data in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR. If you contact us by e-mail, you can object to the storage of your personal data at any time.

Contacting us by telephone

1. When contacting us by telephone, your telephone number will be processed to process the contact enquiry and its handling and temporarily stored or displayed in the RAM / cache of the telephone device / display. The storage takes place for liability and security reasons in order to be able to provide proof of the call and for economic reasons in order to enable a callback. In the event of unauthorised advertising calls, we block the telephone numbers.

2. The legal basis for the processing of the telephone number is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR. If the contact is aimed at the conclusion of a contract, the additional legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR.

3. The device cache stores the calls for 90 days and successively overwrites or deletes old data; when the device is disposed of, all data is deleted and the memory may be destroyed. Blocked telephone numbers are checked annually to see whether they need to be blocked.

4. You can prevent the telephone number from being displayed by calling with the telephone number suppressed.

Google ReCAPTCHA

1. We have integrated the anti-spam function "reCAPTCHA" from "Google" (provider: Google Ireland Limited, Register No.: 368047, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland).

2. Data category and description of data processing: Usage data (e.g. website accessed, IP). By using "reCAPTCHA" in our forms, we can determine whether the input was made by a machine (robot) or a human. When using the service, your IP address and any other data required for this purpose may be transmitted to Google servers in the USA.

3. Purpose of processing: prevention of spam and misuse as well as our economic interest in optimising our website.

4. Legal basis: If you have given your consent ("opt-in") for the processing of your personal data by means of "reCaptcha" by the third-party provider, then Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR is the legal basis. The legal basis is also our legitimate interest in data processing for the above purposes in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR.

5. Data transfer/recipient category: third-party providers in the USA.

6. Storage period: until the cookies are deleted by you as the user.

7. You can find more information about Google ReCAPTCHA
at https://www.google.com/recaptcha/ and in Google's privacy policy
at: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Google Maps

1. We have integrated maps from "Google Maps" (provider: Google Ireland Limited, registration no.: 368047, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland).

2. Data category and description of data processing: usage data (e.g. IP, location, page accessed). With Google Maps, we can display the location of addresses and directions directly on our website in interactive maps and enable you to use this tool. When you access our website where Google Maps is integrated, a connection is established to Google's servers in the USA. Your IP address and location may be transmitted to Google. Google also receives the information that you have accessed the corresponding page. This also takes place without a Google user account. If you are logged into your Google account, Google can assign the above data to your account. If you do not wish this to happen, you must log out of your Google account. Google creates user profiles from such data and uses this data for the purposes of advertising, market research or optimisation of its websites.

3. Purpose of processing: provision of a user-friendly, economical and optimised website.

4. Legal basis: If you have given your consent ("opt-in") for the processing of your personal data by means of "Google Maps" by the third-party provider, then Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR is the legal basis. The legal basis is also our legitimate interest in data processing for the above purposes in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR.

5. Data transfer/recipient category: third-party providers in the USA.

6. Storage period: Cookies for up to 6 months or until you delete them. Otherwise as soon as they are no longer required for the processing purposes.

7. Objection and removal option: You have a right of objection to Google against the creation of user profiles. Please contact Google directly via the privacy policy below. You can opt out of advertising cookies here in your Google account: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

8. In the terms of use of Google Maps at https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/help/terms_maps.html and in Google's privacy policy for advertising at https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads you will find further information on the use of Google cookies and their advertising technologies, storage duration, anonymisation, location data, how they work and your rights. Google's general privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Presence in social media

1. We maintain profiles and fan pages on social media. When you use and access our profile in the respective network, the respective data protection notices and terms of use of the respective network apply.

2. Data categories and description of data processing: usage data, contact data, content data, inventory data. Furthermore, user data within social networks is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behaviour and the resulting interests of users. The user profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place adverts within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on the user's computer, in which the user's usage behaviour and interests are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the user profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them). For a detailed description of the respective forms of processing and the opt-out options, please refer to the data protection declarations and information provided by the operators of the respective networks. In the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would also like to point out that these can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to the users' data and can take appropriate measures and provide information directly. If you still need help, you can contact us.

3. Purpose of processing: communication with the users connected and registered on the social networks; information and advertising for our products, offers and services; external presentation and image cultivation; evaluation and analysis of the users and contents of our presence in the social media.

4. Legal basis: The legal basis for the processing of personal data is our legitimate interest in the above purposes in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR. Insofar as you have given us or the controller of the social network consent to the processing of your personal data, the legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit.
a) in conjunction with. Art. 7 GDPR.

5. Data transmission/recipient category: social network.

6. The data protection notices, information options and objection options (opt-out) of the respective networks / service providers can be found here:
- LinkedIn - Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland) - Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy, Cookie Policy and

Opt-Out: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy.

Rights of the data subject

1. Objection or revocation against the processing of your data

If the processing is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a), Art. 7 GDPR, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out on the basis of the consent until revocation.

Insofar as we base the processing of your personal data on the balancing of interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR, you can object to the processing. This is the case if, in particular, the processing is not necessary for the fulfilment of a contract with you, which is described by us in the following description of the functions. When exercising such an objection, we ask you to explain the reasons why we should not process your personal data as we have done. In the event of your justified objection, we will examine the situation and will either discontinue or adapt the data processing or show you our compelling reasons worthy of protection on the basis of which we will continue the processing.

You can object to the processing of your personal data for advertising and data analysis purposes at any time. You can exercise your right to object free of charge. You can inform us of your objection to advertising using the following contact details:

2. Right to information
You have a right to information about your personal data stored by us in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR. This includes, in particular, information about the purposes of processing, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period, the origin of your data if it was not collected directly from you.

3. Right to rectification
You have a right to rectification of inaccurate data or completion of correct data in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR.

4. Right to erasure
You have the right to erasure of your data stored by us in accordance with Art. 17 GDPR, unless statutory or contractual retention periods or other statutory obligations or rights to further storage prevent this.

5. Right to restriction
You have the right to request a restriction on the processing of your personal data if one of the conditions in Art. 18 para. 1 lit. a) to d) GDPR is met:
- If you contest the accuracy of the personal data concerning you for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data;
- the processing is unlawful and you oppose the erasure of the personal data and request the restriction of their use instead
- the controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of the processing, but they are required by you for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, or
- if you have objected to processing pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override your grounds.

6. Right to data portability
You have a right to data portability in accordance with Art. 20 GDPR, which means that you can receive the personal data we have stored about you in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or request that it be transferred to another controller.

7. Right to lodge a complaint
You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority, in particular in the member state of your place of residence, your place of work or your place of work.

Data security
We have taken appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect all personal data that is transmitted to us and to ensure that we and our external service providers comply with data protection regulations. Therefore, among other things, all data between your browser and our server is transmitted in encrypted form via a secure SSL connection.

Status: 14.05.2024