This data protection declaration is intended to inform the users of this website in accordance with Art. 13 and 14 DSGVO (information duties) and other regulations (e.g. Telemediengesetz) about the type, scope and purpose of the collection and use of personal data by the responsible website operator Michael Stuber, Richard-Wagner-Str. 25, D 50674 Köln, email post@michael-stuber.biz, Tel 0221-2221250, Fax 0221-2221251 (for further details please refer to the Imprint) and other relevant aspects. This declaration covers all aspects of the GDPR while it refers to the specific regulations in Germany where the operator is based.

1. 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 data protection declaration. The use of our website is generally possible without providing personal data. As far as on our sides personal data (for example name, address, telephone number or email addresses) are collected and stored, this takes place, as far as possible, always on voluntary basis. This data will not be passed on to third parties without your express consent. We would like to point out, however, that data transmission over the Internet (e.g. communication by e-mail) can have security gaps. A complete protection of data against access by third parties is hence not possible.

2. Technical Access Data and 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 include: Browser type and browser version, operating system used, referrer URL (source/reference from where you came to the page), host name (IP address used) of the accessing computer, time of the server request, amount of data sent in bytes.

The data collected is used for the smooth establishment of connections and convenient use and improvement of the websites, as well as for system security and administrative purposes (e.g. statistical evaluations). The legal basis for data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f DSGVO. Our legitimate interest follows from the purposes listed above for data collection. These data cannot be assigned to specific persons. These data are not combined with other data sources. However, we reserve the right to check these data subsequently if we become aware of concrete indications of an illegal use.

3. Contact, Newsletter and Handling of Personal Data

If you send us inquiries or information, your data, in particular the contact data provided by you for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in the event of follow-up questions and, if necessary, due to legal requirements, will be stored with us. The informational services offered by us (newsletter as well as information about studies, events and offers) is aimed at people who are interested in our work and in a possible cooperation. These include above all companies, interest groups / think tanks / NGOs, politics & public administration, universities (research, teaching, studies, administration) as well as the media / journalists. If you have expressly consented according to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a DSGVO, we use your personal data to send you (non-)regularly occasion-related information.

Depending on the individual case, we store personal data such as name, your e-mail address, the name of the organisation from which you are contacting us, address, telephone number (or other contact data) and, if applicable, information about your area of responsibility or work (subject or function). We only store data that is required to send you relevant information (e.g. relating to your location or your field of activity).

The data will be processed for the purpose of contacting us in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a DSGVO on the basis of your voluntary consent.

You can revoke the storage of your data as well as their use (or restriction) at any time, for example via the “unsubscribe”-function, which is indicated in many of our emails, in particular in the newsletter (web link or reply email) or via a direct email.

4. Passing on of Data

Your personal data will not be transmitted to third parties for purposes other than those listed below. We will only pass on your personal data to third parties if:

• you have given your express consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a DSGVO,
• the disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 f DSGVO is necessary to assert, exercise or defend legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding interest worthy of protection in not disclosing your data,
• in the event that a legal obligation exists for the transfer pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c DSGVO, and
• this is legally permissible and is necessary for the processing of contractual relationships with you pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b DSGVO.

5. Cookies

Some of the Internet pages use so-called cookies. Cookies do not cause any damage to your computer and do not contain any viruses. Cookies serve to make our website 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 automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognize your browser the next time you visit our website.

The data processed by cookies is required for the aforementioned purposes in order to protect our legitimate interests and those of third parties pursuant to Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f DSGVO.

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

To manage the cookies and similar technologies used (tracking pixels, web beacons, etc.) and related consents, we use the consent tool “Real Cookie Banner”. Details on how “Real Cookie Banner” works can be found at https://devowl.io/rcb/data-processing.

The legal basis for the processing of personal data in this context are Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR and Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interest is the management of the cookies and similar technologies used and the related consents.

The provision of personal data is neither contractually required nor necessary for the conclusion of a contract. You are not obliged to provide the personal data. If you do not provide the personal data, we will not be able to manage your consents.

6. Tracking Tools

The tracking measures listed below and used by us are carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 f DSGVO. With the tracking measures used, we want to ensure that our website is designed to meet requirements and is continually optimised. On the other hand, we use the tracking measures to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for you for the purpose of optimising our offer or to assert claims, e.g. under copyright law. These interests are to be regarded as legitimate within the meaning of the aforementioned provision.

The respective data processing purposes and data categories can be taken from the corresponding tracking tools described below.

a) VG Wort Cookies and Tracking of Access Numbers

We use “session cookies” from VG Wort, Munich, to measure access to texts in order to record the probability of copying. Session cookies are small units of information that a provider stores in the RAM of the visitor’s computer. A randomly generated unique identification number, a so-called session ID, is stored in a session cookie. In addition, a cookie contains information about its origin and the storage period. Session cookies cannot store any other data. These measurements are carried out by Kantar Germany GmbH according to the Scalable Central Measurement Method (SZM). They help to determine the copy probability of individual texts for the remuneration of legal claims of authors and publishers. We do not collect any personal data via cookies. We use “session cookies” from VG Wort, Munich, to measure access to texts in order to record the probability of copying. Session cookies are small units of information that a provider stores in the RAM of the visitor’s computer. A randomly generated unique identification number, a so-called session ID, is stored in a session cookie. In addition, a cookie contains information about its origin and the storage period. Session cookies cannot store any other data. These measurements are carried out by Kantar Germany GmbH according to the Scalable Central Measurement Method (SZM). They help to determine the copy probability of individual texts for the remuneration of legal claims of authors and publishers. We do not collect any personal data via cookies.

It is also possible to use our services without cookies. Most browsers are set to accept cookies automatically. However, you can deactivate the storage of cookies or set your browser to notify you as soon as cookies are sent.

Data protection declaration for the use of the scalable central measuring method

Our website and our mobile web offer use the “Scalable Central Measurement Method” (SZM) of Kantar Germany GmbH to determine statistical parameters for determining the copy probability of texts.
In the process, anonymous measurement values are collected. The access count measurement alternatively uses a session cookie or a signature, which is created from various automatically transmitted information from your browser, to recognise computer systems. IP addresses are only processed in anonymised form.

The procedure was developed with due regard for data protection. The sole aim of the procedure is to determine the copying probability of individual texts.

At no time are individual users identified. Your identity always remains protected. You will not receive any advertising via the system.

b) Google Analytics (GA4) with Consent Manager

Source: Google Analytics Conditions

We use Google Analytics on our website, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (‘Google’). Google Analytics uses cookies that enable your use of the website to be analysed. The information generated by the cookies about your use of this website (including your shortened IP address) is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

The use of Google Analytics is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. You can use the Consent Manager on our website to consent to or reject the use of Google Analytics.

It is possible that data may be transferred to the USA. In this case, an adequate level of data protection is not fully guaranteed. Your data may be processed by US authorities for monitoring and surveillance purposes without you having any legal remedies against this.

Google LLC complies with European data protection law and is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active

You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by accessing your settings in the Consent Manager and deactivating the use of Google Analytics.

You can find more information on data protection at Google at
– https://policies.google.com/privacy
– https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245

c) Google Ads with Consent Manager

We use the online advertising programme Google Ads from Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (‘Google’) on our website. As part of Google Ads, we use what is known as conversion tracking. When you click on an advert placed by Google, a cookie for conversion tracking is stored on your device. These cookies lose their validity after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If you visit certain pages of our website and the cookie has not yet expired, we and Google can recognise that someone has clicked on the ad and been redirected to our site.

The data is processed on the basis of your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR, which you have given us via the Consent Manager. The information collected is used to generate conversion statistics for Ads customers who have opted for conversion tracking.

It is possible that data may be transferred to the USA. There is a risk that your data may be processed by US authorities for control and monitoring purposes without you being entitled to any legal remedies.

Google LLC complies with European data protection law and is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active

You can withdraw your consent at any time by accessing the settings in the Consent Manager and deactivating the use of Google Ads Conversion Tracking.

You can find more information on data protection at Google at
– https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en
– https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7548399?hl=en

7. Use of Social Media Plug-ins

We may use social media plug-ins of social networks such as Facebook, XING, X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn on our website on the basis of art. 6 par. 1 p. 1 lit. f DSGVO in order to make our activities and our company better known. The underlying advertising purpose is to be regarded as a legitimate interest within the meaning of the DSGVO. Responsibility for data protection-compliant operation must be guaranteed by the respective provider. The integration of these plug-ins by us takes place in the way of the so-called two-click method around visitors of our web page in the best possible way to protect.

a) Facebook

The Facebook Social Plugin is provided by Facebook Inc. (1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA). The bindings can be recognised by the Facebook logo or the terms “Like”, “I like”, “Share” in the facebook colours (blue and white). Information about all Facebook plugins can be found in the following link: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/

The plugin establishes a direct connection between your browser and the Facebook servers. The website operator has no influence on the nature and scope of the data that the plugin transmits to the servers of Facebook Inc. Information on this can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/help/186325668085084

The plugin informs Facebook Inc. that you have visited this website. It is possible that your IP address may be stored. If you are logged into your Facebook account during your visit to this site, the above information will be linked to your Facebook account.

If you use the functions of the plugin – for example by sharing or “likening” a post – the corresponding information will also be transmitted to Facebook Inc.

Do you want to prevent Facebook. Inc. links this information to your Facebook account, please log out of Facebook before visiting this website.

Facebook Inc. complies with European data protection law and is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active

b) XING

The XING Share button is operated by XING SE, Dammtorstraße 30, 20354 Hamburg, Germany. If you visit a page that contains the Xing Share button, your browser will temporarily establish a connection to XING SE servers (“XING”) with which the “XING Share button” functions (in particular the calculation/display of the counter value) are performed. XING does not store any personal data about you when you access this website. In particular, XING does not store any IP addresses. There is also no evaluation of your usage behaviour via the use of cookies in connection with the “XING Share Button”. The website operator has no influence whatsoever on the nature and scope of the data that the plugin transmits to the XING SE. servers. Click the Xing button while logged into Xing, share the content of the page on your public profile.

The latest data protection information on the “XING Share Button” and additional information can be called up on this website:
https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection

c) LinkedIn

LinkedIn interfaces are operated by LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (hereinafter referred to as “LinkedIn”). If you visit a page that contains such a button, a direct connection is established between your browser and the LinkedIn servers, which are thus informed about the use of our websites under your IP address. If you use the plug-in while logged in at LinkeIn, you can share or link our content there. This enables you to assign your visit to our website. The website operator has no influence over the nature and scope of the data that the plugin transmits to LinkedIn’s servers.

If you do not want LinkedIn to associate the information collected through our website with your LinkedIn account, you must log out of LinkedIn before visiting our website.

Information on LinkedIn’s handling of personal data can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

8. Right of information, deletion, blocking, revocation

You have the right to obtain free information about your stored personal data (Art. 15 DSGVO), its origin and the purpose of data processing as well as a right to correction (Art. 16 DSGVO), deletion (Art. 17 DSGVO) or blocking (Art. 18 DSGVO) of these data at any time, unless your request conflicts with a legal obligation to store data. In accordance with Art. 20 DSGVO, you can receive your personal data in a structured, common and machine-readable format.

According to art. 7 para 3 DSGVO you can revoke your consent to us at any time. We will then no longer implement the corresponding data agreement. Furthermore, according to Art. 77 DSGVO, you may complain to a supervisory authority (e.g. at your place of residence or at our company headquarters).

To exercise one of these rights or for further questions on the subject of personal data, you can contact us at any time at the address given above or in the imprint.

9. Right of Objection

If your personal data are processed on the basis of legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 letter f DSGVO, you have the right to object to the processing of these data in accordance with Art. 21 DSGVO if there are reasons for this which arise from your particular situation or the objection is directed against direct advertising. In the latter case, you have a general right of objection, which we will implement without specifying a particular situation.

If you wish to exercise your right of revocation or objection, simply send an e-mail to post@michael-stuber.biz

10. Data security

We use appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional misuse, against destruction, partial or total loss and against unauthorised access by third parties. These security measures are continuously improved (according to technological possibilities).

11. Up-to-dateness and adaptation of this data protection declaration

This data protection declaration is valid as of May 2018, was last updated in September 2024 and hence corresponds to the latest general conditions. Due to changes to our website or due to changes in the legal framework, it may become necessary to adapt this data protection declaration. The current version in the legally binding local language (German) can be accessed at any time at https://www.ungleich-besser.de/datenschutz.

12. Contradiction to advertising mails

We herewith object to the use of contact data published within the scope of the imprint or privacy obligation to send unsolicited advertising and information material. The operators of these pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited advertising information, such as spam e-mails.