Privacy Policy

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLECTION OF PERSONAL DATA AND CONTACT DETAILS OF THE CONTROLLER

1.1 We are pleased that you are visiting our website and thank you for your interest. Below, we inform you about the handling of your personal data when using our website. Personal data refers to all data with which you can be personally identified.

1.2 The controller responsible for data processing on this website, within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is The Collective North. The controller for the processing of personal data is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of processing personal data.

1.3 This website uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of personal data and other confidential content (e.g., orders or inquiries to the controller). You can recognize an encrypted connection by the string "https://" and the lock icon in your browser's address bar.

2. DATA COLLECTION WHEN VISITING OUR WEBSITE When you visit our website for informational purposes only, meaning you do not register or otherwise provide us with information, we only collect data that your browser transmits to our server (so-called "server log files"). When you access our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary to display the website:

• Our visited website

• Date and time of access

• Amount of data sent in bytes

• Source/reference from which you accessed the page

• Browser used

• Operating system used

• IP address used (if applicable, anonymized)

Processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR based on our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website. The data will not be passed on or used otherwise. However, we reserve the right to check the server log files retrospectively if there are concrete indications of unlawful use.

3. COOKIES To make your visit to our website attractive and enable certain functions, we use so-called cookies on various pages. These are small text files that are stored on your device. Some of the cookies we use are deleted after the browser session ends (so-called session cookies). Other cookies remain on your device and allow us or our partner companies (third-party cookies) to recognize your browser upon your next visit (persistent cookies).

If cookies process personal data, the processing occurs in accordance with Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR for contract execution or in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR to safeguard our legitimate interest in the best possible functionality of the website and a user-friendly experience.

We may work with advertising partners who help us make our online offerings more interesting for you. In this case, cookies from partner companies (third-party cookies) are also stored on your device when you visit our website. If we cooperate with such advertising partners, you will be individually and separately informed about the use of such cookies and the scope of the collected information in the following paragraphs.

Please note that you can set your browser to notify you about the placement of cookies and decide individually whether to accept them or exclude them for certain cases or in general. Each browser manages cookie settings differently. This is described in the help menu of each browser, which explains how to change your cookie settings. These can be found for the respective browsers at the following links:

• Internet Explorer: [link]

• Firefox: [link]

• Chrome: [link]

• Safari: [link]

• Opera: [link]

Please note that if cookies are not accepted, the functionality of our website may be limited.

4. CONTACTING US
When you contact us (e.g., via the contact form or email), personal data is collected. The data collected when filling out a contact form is specified in the respective contact form. This data is stored and used solely for the purpose of responding to your inquiry or for initiating contact and the associated technical administration. The legal basis for processing this data is our legitimate interest in responding to your request in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. If your inquiry is aimed at concluding a contract, an additional legal basis for processing is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

Your data will be deleted once your request has been fully processed, which is the case when it becomes clear from the circumstances that the matter has been conclusively resolved and no legal retention periods apply.

This website uses the online marketing tool DoubleClick by Google, operated by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States ("DoubleClick"). DoubleClick uses cookies to display ads relevant to users, improve campaign performance reports, or prevent a user from seeing the same ads multiple times.

Through a cookie ID, Google records which ads are displayed in which browser and can thus prevent them from being shown repeatedly. The processing is based on our legitimate interest in optimal marketing of our website in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.

Additionally, DoubleClick can track conversions related to ad requests using cookie IDs. For example, this happens when a user sees a DoubleClick ad and later visits the advertiser’s website with the same browser and makes a purchase. According to Google, DoubleClick cookies do not contain personal information.

Due to the marketing tools used, your browser automatically establishes a direct connection to Google's server. We have no influence over the scope and further use of the data collected by Google through this tool and therefore inform you to the best of our knowledge:

By integrating DoubleClick, Google receives the information that you have visited the relevant part of our website or clicked on an ad from us. If you are registered with a Google service, Google can associate your visit with your account. Even if you are not registered with Google or not logged in, the provider may still obtain and store your IP address.

If you wish to opt out of this tracking process, you can disable conversion tracking cookies by setting your browser to block cookies from the domain www.googleadservices.com (Google Ads Settings).

Alternatively, you can visit the Digital Advertising Alliance at www.aboutads.info for more information on cookie settings and how to opt out.

Google LLC, based in the United States, is certified under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, ensuring compliance with EU data protection standards.
For more information about DoubleClick by Google’s privacy policy, please visit: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

10.2 Use of Google AdWords Conversion Tracking

This website uses the online advertising program Google AdWords and, within Google AdWords, the Google AdWords Conversion Tracking service, operated by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States ("Google").

We use Google AdWords to draw attention to our attractive offers on external websites using advertisements (known as Google AdWords ads). Based on campaign data, we can determine the success of individual advertising campaigns. Our interest in this process is to show you advertisements of interest to you, make our website more engaging for you, and achieve a fair calculation of advertising costs.

A conversion tracking cookie is set when a user clicks on an AdWords ad placed by Google. Cookies are small text files stored on your computer. These cookies typically expire after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages on our website while the cookie is still valid, Google and we can recognize that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to this page.

Each Google AdWords customer receives a different cookie, so cookies cannot be tracked across AdWords customers' websites. The information collected through conversion cookies is used to generate conversion statistics for AdWords customers who have opted for conversion tracking.

We receive information on the total number of users who clicked on an ad and were redirected to a page containing a conversion tracking tag. However, we do not receive any information that personally identifies users.

If you do not wish to participate in this tracking process, you can disable Google Conversion Tracking cookies in your browser settings. This will prevent you from being included in conversion tracking statistics.

We use Google AdWords based on our legitimate interest in targeted advertising in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.

Google LLC, based in the United States, is certified under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, ensuring compliance with EU data protection standards.
For more information about Google's privacy policy, visit: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

You can permanently disable cookies for ad preferences by adjusting your browser settings or by installing the browser plugin available at:
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/plugin?hl=en.

Please note that if you disable cookies, certain features of this website may no longer function properly.

11. WEB ANALYTICS SERVICES
Google (Universal) Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States ("Google").

Google Analytics uses cookies (small text files stored on your computer) to help analyze your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website (including your IP address, which is anonymized on this website to prevent direct identification) is generally transmitted to a Google server in the U.S. and stored there.

This website uses Google Analytics with the extension "_anonymizeIp()", ensuring that IP addresses are truncated within EU member states or other countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) before being sent to the U.S. This eliminates direct personal identification.

In exceptional cases, the full IP address is transmitted to a Google server in the U.S. and shortened there. This processing is based on our legitimate interest in statistical analysis of user behavior for optimization and marketing purposes in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.

On our behalf, Google will use this information to evaluate website usage, generate reports on website activity, and provide other services related to website usage and internet activity. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data.

You can disable cookies by adjusting your browser settings. However, please note that this may limit certain website functions.

Additionally, you can prevent Google from collecting and processing cookie-generated data (including your IP address) related to your website usage by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On, available here:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

As an alternative to the browser add-on, you can click the following link to set an opt-out cookie that prevents future data collection by Google Analytics on this website. If you delete your cookies, you must click this link again:

▶ Disable Google Analytics

Google LLC, based in the United States, is certified under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, ensuring compliance with EU data protection standards.
For more information on Google Analytics' privacy policy, visit:
https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

This website also uses Google Analytics for cross-device analysis of visitor flows, which is carried out via a User-ID. When a user visits a page for the first time, they are assigned a unique, permanent, and anonymized ID that applies across multiple devices. This allows interaction data from different devices and sessions to be assigned to a single user.

The User-ID does not contain personal data and is not transmitted to Google. You can object at any time to the collection and storage of data via the User-ID for future tracking.

To do so, you must disable Google Analytics on all systems you use, such as a different browser or your mobile device.

You can deactivate Google Analytics using the Google browser add-on, available at:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

As an alternative to the browser plug-in or for browsers on mobile devices, you can click the following link to place an opt-out cookie, which prevents Google Analytics from collecting data on this website in the future.
(This opt-out cookie only works in this browser and for this domain. If you delete your cookies in this browser, you must click the link again to reactivate the opt-out setting.)

▶ Disable Google Analytics

For more information about Universal Analytics, please visit:
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2838718?hl=en&ref_topic=6010376.

12. RETARGETING/ REMARKETING/ RECOMMENDATION ADVERTISING

Facebook Custom Audience via the Pixel Method

This website uses the Facebook Pixel from Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States ("Facebook"). With your explicit consent, this technology allows user behavior to be tracked after they have viewed or clicked on a Facebook ad.

This process is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Facebook advertisements for statistical and market research purposes and can help optimize future advertising campaigns. The collected data is anonymous to us and does not provide us with any insights into the identity of users. However, the data is stored and processed by Facebook, allowing Facebook to link the data to individual user profiles and use the data for its own advertising purposes, in accordance with the Facebook Data Usage Policy (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/).

You can allow Facebook and its partners to display advertisements on and outside of Facebook. A cookie may be stored on your device for this purpose. This processing only takes place with your explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

Consent for the use of the Facebook Pixel can only be granted by users who are 13 years or older. If you are under 13 years old, please ask your legal guardian for permission.

Facebook Inc., headquartered in the United States, is certified under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, ensuring compliance with EU data protection standards.

To disable cookies on your computer, you can adjust your browser settings to prevent cookies from being stored in the future or delete existing cookies. However, disabling all cookies may limit the functionality of certain website features.

You can also disable cookies from third-party providers, such as Facebook, on the Digital Advertising Alliance website:
https://www.aboutads.info/choices/

Google AdWords Remarketing

Our website uses the Google AdWords Remarketing feature to display advertisements in Google search results and on third-party websites. The provider of this service is Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States ("Google").

For this purpose, Google places a cookie in your browser, which enables interest-based advertising based on the pages you have previously visited. The processing is based on our legitimate interest in optimizing the marketing of our website in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.

Further data processing only takes place if you have given Google explicit consent to link your browsing history across different devices to your Google account and to personalize advertisements based on this data.

If you are logged into Google while visiting our website, Google will use your Google Analytics data together with AdWords data to create cross-device remarketing lists. Your personal data will only be temporarily linked to Google Analytics data to create target audiences.

You can permanently disable cookies for advertising preferences by installing the browser plugin available at:
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/

Alternatively, you can adjust your settings via the Digital Advertising Alliance website:
www.aboutads.info

Finally, you can configure your browser settings to receive notifications when cookies are placed, choose whether to accept cookies individually, or block cookies altogether. If you disable cookies, some website functionalities may be limited.

Google LLC, based in the United States, is certified under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, ensuring compliance with EU data protection standards.

For more information on Google advertising and its privacy policy, visit:
https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads/

13. DATA SUBJECT RIGHTS
13.1 Your Rights under the GDPR

Under applicable data protection law, you have extensive rights concerning the processing of your personal data by the data controller, which we explain below:

• Right of access (Article 15 GDPR): You have the right to obtain information about the personal data we process, the purposes of processing, the categories of personal data, the recipients or categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned retention period, the existence of rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, and objection rights, the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, and, if applicable, information about data sources if the data was not collected directly from you.

• Right to rectification (Article 16 GDPR): You have the right to request the immediate correction of incorrect or incomplete personal data stored by us.

• Right to erasure (Article 17 GDPR): You have the right to request deletion of your personal data under the conditions of Article 17(1) GDPR. However, this right does not apply if processing is necessary for:

  • Exercising the right to freedom of expression and information,
  • Fulfilling a legal obligation,
  • Reasons of public interest, or
  • Establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims.

• Right to restriction of processing (Article 18 GDPR): You have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data if:

  • The accuracy of your data is contested,
  • You oppose erasure due to unlawful processing and instead request restriction,
  • You need the data for legal claims, while we no longer need it for processing, or
  • You have objected to processing, and it has not yet been determined whether our legitimate interests outweigh yours.

• Right to be informed (Article 19 GDPR): If you have exercised your right to rectification, erasure, or restriction, the controller is required to inform all recipients of your data unless this is impossible or disproportionately burdensome. You have the right to be informed about these recipients.

• Right to data portability (Article 20 GDPR): You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format or to request direct transmission to another controller, where technically feasible.

• Right to withdraw consent (Article 7(3) GDPR): You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, with future effect. In case of withdrawal, we will immediately delete the affected data unless further processing is legally permitted. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

• Right to lodge a complaint (Article 77 GDPR): If you believe that the processing of your personal data violates the GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in the EU country where you reside, work, or where the alleged violation occurred.
  
  13.2 RIGHT TO OBJECT 
  

  If we process your personal data based on our legitimate interest, you have the right to object at any time for reasons arising from your particular situation.

  IF YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT, WE WILL CEASE PROCESSING THE AFFECTED DATA, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing that override your interests, rights, and freedoms, or if processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

  If your personal data is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time. If you exercise this right to object, we will immediately stop processing your data for marketing purposes.

  14. DATA RETENTION PERIOD 
  

  The storage duration of personal data depends on the respective legal retention period (e.g., commercial and tax-related retention periods). Once this period expires, the corresponding data is routinely deleted, unless further retention is required for contract execution or there is a legitimate interest in further storage.