privacy policy

General information

The following notes provide a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit our website. Personal data is any data with which you can be personally identified. For detailed information on data protection, please refer to our privacy policy set out below this text.

Data collection on our website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the imprint of this website.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected partly by you providing it to us. This may be data that you enter into a contact form, for example.

Other data is collected automatically by our IT systems when you visit the website. This is primarily technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system or time of the page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter our website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure that the website is provided without errors. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to receive free information about the origin, recipients and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have a right to demand the correction, blocking or deletion of this data. For this and for further questions on the subject of data protection you can contact us at any time at the address given in the imprint. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. For details, please refer to the privacy policy under “Right to restriction of processing”.

Analysis tools and third-party tools

When you visit our website your surfing behaviour may be analysed statistically. This is done primarily with cookies and with so-called analysis programs. The analysis of your surfing behaviour is usually anonymous; the surfing behaviour cannot be traced back to you. You can object to this analysis or prevent it by not using certain tools. You will find detailed information on this in the following privacy policy.

You can object to this analysis. We will inform you about the options for objecting in this privacy policy.

Data protection

The operators of these pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data with which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens.

We point out that data transmission over the internet (e.g. when communicating by e-mail) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the responsible party

The party responsible for data processing on this website is:

SK-Office Deutschland GmbH Mark Müller Hauptstraße 181 D-51143 Cologne

Telephone: +49 (0)2203 – 590 430 Fax: +49 (0)2203 – 4329 mark.mueller@sk-office.net

The responsible party is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data (e.g. names, e-mail addresses or similar).

Withdrawal of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke consent you have already given at any time. An informal message by e-mail to us is sufficient for this. The lawfulness of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to data collection in special cases and to direct advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)

If the data processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR, you have the right at any time to object to the processing of your personal data for reasons arising from your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. You can find the respective legal basis on which processing is based in this privacy policy. If you object, we will no longer process the personal data concerned 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 defence of legal claims (objection pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR).

If your personal data is processed for the purpose of direct advertising, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such advertising; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is connected with such direct advertising. If you object, your personal data will subsequently no longer be used for the purpose of direct advertising (objection pursuant to Art. 21 (2) GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of infringements of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the member state of their habitual residence, their place of work or the place of the alleged infringement. This right of complaint is without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy.

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfilment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done insofar as it is technically feasible.

SSL or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or enquiries that you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the browser's address line changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Information, blocking, deletion and correction

Within the framework of the applicable statutory provisions you have the right at any time to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients and the purpose of the data processing and, if applicable, a right to correction, blocking or deletion of this data. For this and for further questions on the subject of personal data you can contact us at any time at the address given in the imprint.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time at the address given in the imprint. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases:

• If you dispute the accuracy of the personal data we hold about you, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the verification you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.
• If the processing of your personal data was or is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion.
• If we no longer need your personal data but you require it to exercise, defend or assert legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of its deletion.
• If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

Objection to advertising e-mails

We hereby object to the use of contact data published within the scope of the imprint obligation for sending advertising and information material that has not been expressly requested. The operators of the pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of advertising information, for example by spam e-mails.

Cookies

The internet pages partly use so-called cookies. Cookies do no harm to your computer and do not contain viruses. Cookies serve to make our offering more user-friendly, effective and secure. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and saved by your browser.

Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies”. They are deleted automatically at the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognise your browser on your next visit.

You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and allow cookies only in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when the browser is closed. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be limited.

Cookies that are necessary for carrying out the electronic communication process or for providing certain functions you have requested (e.g. shopping cart function) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimised provision of its services. Insofar as other cookies (e.g. cookies for analysing your surfing behaviour) are stored, these are dealt with separately in this privacy policy.

Server log files

The provider of the pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

• Browser type and browser version
• operating system used
• Referrer URL
• Host name of the accessing computer
• Time of the server request
• IP address

Contact form

If you send us enquiries via the contact form, your details from the enquiry form, including the contact data you provide there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the enquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not pass on this data without your consent.

The data entered in the contact form is therefore processed exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). You can revoke this consent at any time. An informal message by e-mail to us is sufficient for this. The lawfulness of the data processing operations carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you enter in the contact form remains with us until you ask us to delete it, revoke your consent to its storage or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g. after your enquiry has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

Enquiry by e-mail, telephone or fax

If you contact us by e-mail, telephone or fax, your enquiry including all personal data arising from it (name, enquiry) will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of handling your request. We do not pass on this data without your consent.

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR insofar as your enquiry is connected with the fulfilment of a contract or is necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases the processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR) and/or on our legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR), since we have a legitimate interest in the effective handling of the enquiries addressed to us.

The data you send us via contact enquiries remains with us until you ask us to delete it, revoke your consent to its storage or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

Processing of data (client and contract data)

We collect, process and use personal data only insofar as it is necessary for the establishment, content or amendment of the legal relationship (inventory data). This is done on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the fulfilment of a contract or pre-contractual measures. We collect, process and use personal data about the use of our websites (usage data) only insofar as this is necessary to enable the user to use the service or to bill the user for it.

The client data collected is deleted after completion of the order or termination of the business relationship. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Social media plugins with Shariff

Plugins from social media are used on our pages (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, XING, LinkedIn, Tumblr).

You can usually recognise the plugins by the respective social media logos. To ensure data protection on our website, we only use these plugins together with the so-called “Shariff” solution. This application prevents the plugins integrated on our website from transmitting data to the respective provider as soon as you first enter the page.

Only when you activate the respective plugin by clicking the associated button is a direct connection to the provider's server established (consent). As soon as you activate the plugin, the respective provider receives the information that you have visited our page with your IP address. If you are logged into your respective social media account (e.g. Facebook) at the same time, the respective provider can assign the visit to our pages to your user account.

Activating the plugin constitutes consent within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. You can revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future.

Google Analytics

This website uses functions of the web analysis service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Google Analytics uses so-called “cookies”. These are text files that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of your use of the website. 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.

Google Analytics cookies are stored and this analysis tool is used on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analysing user behaviour in order to optimise both its website and its advertising.

IP anonymisation

We have activated the IP anonymisation function on this website. As a result, your IP address is truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before it is transmitted to the USA. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide the website operator with further services connected with website use and internet use. The IP address transmitted by your browser within the scope of Google Analytics is not merged with other data from Google.

Browser plugin

You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting your browser software accordingly; we point out, however, that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of this website to their full extent. You can also prevent the collection of the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) by Google, as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

Objection to data collection

You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set that prevents your data from being collected during future visits to this website: Disable Google Analytics.

You can find more information on the handling of user data in Google Analytics in Google's privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en.

Order processing

We have concluded an order processing contract with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

Demographic characteristics in Google Analytics

This website uses the “demographic characteristics” function of Google Analytics. This makes it possible to create reports containing statements about the age, gender and interests of site visitors. This data comes from interest-based advertising by Google as well as from visitor data of third-party providers. This data cannot be assigned to any specific person. You can deactivate this function at any time via the ad settings in your Google account, or generally prohibit the collection of your data by Google Analytics as described under “Objection to data collection”.

Storage period

Data stored by Google at user and event level that is linked to cookies, user identifiers (e.g. user ID) or advertising IDs (e.g. DoubleClick cookies, Android advertising ID) is anonymised or deleted after 14 months. You can find details at the following link: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/7667196?hl=en

YouTube with extended data protection

Our website uses plugins from the YouTube website. The site is operated by YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

We use YouTube in extended data protection mode. According to YouTube, this mode means that YouTube does not store any information about visitors to this website before they watch the video. The extended data protection mode does not, however, necessarily rule out the sharing of data with YouTube partners. YouTube establishes a connection to the Google DoubleClick network regardless of whether you watch a video.

As soon as you start a YouTube video on our website, a connection to YouTube's servers is established. The YouTube server is thereby informed which of our pages you have visited. If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to assign your surfing behaviour directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

Furthermore, once a video has been started YouTube may store various cookies on your device. With the help of these cookies YouTube can obtain information about visitors to our website. This information is used, among other things, to collect video statistics, improve user-friendliness and prevent fraud attempts. The cookies remain on your device until you delete them.

Once a YouTube video has been started, further data processing operations may be triggered over which we have no influence.

YouTube is used in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offerings. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

You can find further information on data protection at YouTube in their privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

Google Web Fonts

For the uniform display of fonts, this site uses so-called web fonts provided by Google. The Google Fonts are installed locally. No connection to Google servers is established in the process.

Google Maps (with consent)

This site uses the map service Google Maps via an API. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

To ensure data protection on our website, Google Maps is deactivated when you first enter our website. A direct connection to Google's servers is only established when you activate Google Maps yourself (consent under Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). This prevents your data from being transmitted to Google as soon as you first enter the page.

After activation, Google Maps will store your IP address. This is then usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Once Google Maps has been activated, the provider of this site has no influence over this data transfer.

You can find more information on the handling of user data in Google's privacy policy: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.