Fairmazon Shared Cloud? Organizational Contact Technology Imprint/Data Privacy Return To Top

Aim & purpose of Fairmazon

Fairmazon is a decentralized shared cloud platform in which companies and individuals will be able to participate after go-live, either to provide computing capacities for different IT system architectures as a service provider or to use them as a customer. Fairmazon’s offering will initially be aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany and the EU:

  • Service provider target group: SMEs provide computing and network capacity,
  • Customer target group: SMEs use the services offered by the various service providers. The regionally distributed structure of resources presents itself to users as a single platform.

Miezi

A key feature is that Fairmazon is not an isolated cloud, as this the case with common hyperscalers, but consists of the resources of all integrated customers and service providers. The common foundation is a Linux-based virtualization platform that is itself open source and does not charge any fees for non-commercial operation. This offers the mechanisms required for genuine cloud operation for moving virtual instances and overprovisioning infrastructure.

With Fairmazon it is therefore possible to act both as a service provider and as a customer, i.e. by allowing other Fairmazon customers to make utilise use of capacities. From Fairmazon’s point of view, service providers and Fairmazon customers are referred to as stakeholders.

Fairmazon thus offers stakeholders the following services:

  • Definition of the portfolio of services available in Fairmazon,
  • Definition of the standards of the IT infrastructure of the Fairmazon Cloud and thus the specifications for the providers,
  • Invoicing of customers and service providers,
  • First contact for support and help.

Spoiler

A shared cloud platform involving tech-savvy households, student flatshares etc only works - or can only work - with appropriate connection capacities. In Germany, this is increasingly available nationwide in the form of fiber optic connections. For fiber optic connections, many providers offer tariffs with equally high upload and download bandwidths that private households can also afford.

Motivation in brief

The motivation for creating a cost-effective shared cloud platform could not be more valid and stems from the combination of a lack of cost-effectiveness, a lack of data sovereignty and the possibility of blackmail when using conventional cloud business models, particularly in conjunction with the current geopolitical situation.

Data sovereignty & protection against international blackmail

The major US cloud providers are inundating us with voluntary commitments, such as Microsoft here, to European regulations on data security, data sovereignty, security, geopolitical risks and consumer protection. On closer inspection, however, the solutions of all hyperscalers serve the purpose of creating or possibly deepening a vendor lock-in, which also counteracts customers’ existing multicloud and hybrid cloud approaches. In the cases of hyperscalers, it remains unclear what protection their European customers enjoy from the US administration’s access to personal data via the US CLOUD Act or, for example, Section 702 FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act). Such access scenarios are becoming increasingly likely due to the current geopolitical situation. In addition, various US laws such as the US Freedom Act (2015) in conjunction with the aforementioned acts provide a legal basis for European customers of US hyperscalers.

In light of the fact that the ECJ declared the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield invalid in its ruling of July 16, 2020 (Case C-311/18; so-called Schrems II, such data transfers based on the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield should no longer be permitted since 2025 and the promises made since then by cloud providers to the EU on the part of U.S. cloud providers in terms of data security of personal data are likely to be just smoke and mirrors. In addition, various US laws such as the US Freedom Act (2015) in conjunction with the aforementioned acts provide a legal basis for forcing US hyperscalers to disclose any data of their European customers.

Conclusion

A data transfer of business-critical and personal data to cloud providers based in the USA is likely to be classified as impermissible, which is why all companies with such data would have to switch to cloud providers with headquarters and all processing capacities in the EU.

Fairmazon is to become such an EU-residing shared cloud provider.

It should go without saying that Chinese cloud providers such as Tencent or Alibaba are no alternative to their US counterparts in terms of data sovereignty and blackmailability.

Japanese players such as Rakuten and NTT may still remain, but they are not geared towards the requirements of European customers and, in case of doubt, are unlikely to act any differently to their US competitors.

Economic efficiency

From the perspective of a cloud provider, cost-effective cloud operation ideally works for a large number of systems with different and ideally complementary load profiles in combination with the option of operating applications and systems at different locations across regions.

Although the above requirements are met by the large cloud platforms in particular, their pricing models are not a sensible option in most cases, especially for SMEs with comparatively little market power and therefore no possibility of negotiating the hyperscalers’ list prices

A customer’s ideal cloud-native application has an application profile with the following ideal parameters:

  • The working hours of the application are not fixed to 24/7, but the applications can be shut down at night or at weekends, for example
  • The technical complexity of the applications is relatively low so that, for example, the sizing of virtual instances, if available, is manageable
  • RDBMSs are only used where a relational data model makes sense or is necessary. Consistent adherence to this rule would in some cases lead to a migration of existing RDBMSs to NoSQL platforms for cloud operation
  • The applications are robust against failures so that, for example, the use of “spot instances” that are not available at short notice is possible
  • No high demands are placed on the amount of operationally available data volumes
  • Similarly, a high transaction volume is not to be expected
  • The customer can significantly reduce the number of employees involved in the development and operation of their application(s) by automating as much as possible and generally relying on the chosen hyperscaler. Disadvantage: Single sourcing & vendor look-on included.
  • There is no hybrid operation of on-prem & cloud, nor is a multi-cloud approach pursued.

No half measures

To be fair, it should be said that the operation of applications by a hyperscaler rarely involves ‘half measures’. Self-managed on-prem operation is more likely to result in flimsy compromises. If, for example, a very high level of reliability is required even in the event of large-scale natural disasters, the costs of operating an application in local data centres in different regions can be higher than those of a corresponding cloud operation. Many SMEs with such requirements make compromises here, e.g. by running the application in question in different data centres of their house & yard operator, but which are then located in the same city, or by foregoing fail-safety through redundancy and instead simply increasing the backup frequency, ignoring the risk and hoping for the best. For example, that in the event of an outage, the employees required for recovery with the relevant knowledge will be available promptly…

Conclusion

The rule of thumb is that the more an application’s profile deviates from the above-mentioned ideal profile, the less economically viable it is to migrate it to a cloud platform. If there is extremely high availability in combination with high disaster recovery requirements, the complete migration to a hyperscaler platform may even be worthwhile, because such applications are likely to be expensive even in on-prem operation.

Motivation for Fairmazon Shared Cloud from the perspective of experience and history

The motivation for a shared platform also arises from the history of the major cloud providers since around 2010 in general and in particular, as already indicated, from the recent global economic history Problem & History - and also a little #ItoldYouYo

2012 - approx. 2016

At that time, there was a widespread opinion among companies that cloud/hyperscaler operation was only worthwhile for absorbing peak loads - and then there was the problem of data security …

However, this hybrid approach in turn requires investments in the dual-track infrastructure and the adaptation of the applications and, if necessary, redundant design and processing.

From 2018

Data security suddenly no longer seemed to be an issue - contractual assurances sufficed as security. All kinds of operators of large IT landscapes, even financial institutions and KRITIS operators, are moving their core systems to the clouds of large hyperscalers. core systems to the clouds of large hyperscalers.

The warning voices of any spoilsports were not heeded. The author was heavily involved in some of the migrations as a consultant - from the business case through to implementation - and was then very surprised at the assumptions on which the business cases were based. The assumptions concerned the special cost models and discounts for various usage scenarios as well as the future savings in personnel due to cloud migration.

The objections I politely raised were just as politely rejected - mainly on the grounds that “we were in a good negotiating position with the hyperscalers and could readjust the contractually agreed conditions” ….

From 2019

The cloud operating models of all the large companies in whose migration and integration the author was involved launched cost reduction programs for the operation of their systems and applications in the cloud. Customers increasingly began to question and adapt the load profiles of the systems and the associated SLAs that were migrated 1:1 from the existing on-prem world to the cloud. Do the systems really have to run at weekends and be available 24/7? Further adjustments were then made to the business processes as well as the sizing and configuration of the applications themselves.

In addition, customers were also increasingly concerned with exploiting the savings potential inherent in the cloud - e.g. the use of spot instances. In many cases, such scenarios naturally required adjustments to the applications, which have to cope with the sudden loss of an application’s infrastructure and the restart after an indefinite period of time within a maximum period of time - several times a day!

In mid-2020

The ECJ declared the US Privacy Shield for the protection of personal data from the EU in the USA invalid (Schrems II) - meaning that such data should be considered unsafe in connection with the USA Freedom Act. This did not prevent financial institutions from continuing to entrust their core systems to hyperscalers - through migration or continued operation.

From mid-2024

There will be increased doubts about the trustworthiness of US corporations in combination with fears of the instrumentalization of US cloud sizes after a “possible” change of government in the USA.

Organizational

Miezi

Fairmazon is a registered trademark. The fairmazon cloud is currently in the development phase. The specific legal form for the start of productive operation has not yet been determined.

Functionality follows security

  • When implementing the Fairmazon Shared Cloud Platform (FSCP), the focus is on maximum data security in the form of the design principle “Security by Design”.
  • In the event of deliberate compromises in terms of security, these are made transparent with reasons.

For example, encryption always takes place on transfer & at rest; the private keys always remain in the possession of the respective service customer and are never accessible to the FSCP.

Minimal costs:

From the outset, FSCP has focused on maximum automation and therefore efficient use of personnel. In order to keep costs as low as possible, FSCP is not planned as an egg-laying jack of all trades. The expansion of functionality is initially based on the needs of small and medium-sized companies.

Disaster recovery is built in.

Due to the regional distribution of the service provider, redundant infrastructures (hot/cold standby) can be placed at various beach locations, thus also offering protection against natural disasters.

Technology

Blockchain @Fairmazon

We have decided: Fairmazon will use blockchain technology.

And no, Fairmazon will not issue any tradable tokens, at least not for use outside the Fairmazon Shared Cloud Platform (FSCP) - and we are certainly not mining any NFTs; so this is NOT about investments, but about administrative functions such as the settlement of cloud services between users and providers within the FSCP.

In any case, the participants of the FSCP do not need to deal with the blockchain or even blockchain internals in order to use the Fairmazon shared cloud platform.

Still important:

  1. In the first step, the FSCP does not yet become a blockchain application through the use of a blockchain to cover billing functionalities. The blockchain is initially only used to cover the billing functionality of the FSCP. The rest of the administration of FSCP members is done in the traditional way, i.e. by identifying participants and registering, and is linked to identity verification. Customers or service providers on the FSCP who then violate legal regulations or FSCP rules of conduct can be sanctioned accordingly.
  2. In the second step, when all processes are stable and running correctly, the FSCP will be migrated to a blockchain application. This will be done in several steps by transferring the remaining functionalities to smart contracts. The individual service components of the FSC must be aligned with the blockchain so that only services implemented correctly in accordance with FSCP specifications can be monetized in the FSCP
  3. as a result, the management of the Fairmazon Shared Cloud Platform will be implemented through a so-called permissionless blockchain application, to which customers and service providers will have unrestricted access. In the event of illegal or platform-infringing behaviour, blockchain-specific sanctioning mechanisms will be used, such as a form of slashing adapted to the FSCP.

But why a blockchain?

Short answer

The use of blockchain in the FSCP is intended to enable a technically and economically sensible technological option with the aim of full automation, as mentioned above, initially of the billing processes. The aim of the blockchain approach is also to create a robust and cost-effective design for FSCP administration. The FSCP is the ideal type of distributed system with participants that provide or utilise each other’s services. This is a fundamental prerequisite for considering the use of blockchain technology.

Detailed explanation

Blockchains are generally only a sensible alternative to centralized systems in specific cases. To demonstrate their usefulness, blockchains must meet all four ‚blockchain criteria‘ outlined below.

Criterion 1: Data must be stored. In the case of FSCP administration, this is definitely the case - by all participants. Fiscal regulations require the storage of, e.g. billing data over prescribed periods of time.

Criterion 2: There are several participants with write authorisation. Data, e.g. availability or billing data, is written by all participants in the FSCP as part of various processes.

Criterion 3: The participants do not trust each other.

Note:

Not trusting each other is the norm in a market economy. This is why there are obligations to provide evidence and proof as well as so-called Trusted Third Parties (TTPs) to create trust, such as clearing houses, arbitration centres, money-issuing central banks, or central administrations.

Where TTPs are not desired or possible, it may be worth considering blockchain technology. The blockchain stores data unalterably and is therefore resistant to censorship as long as technical boundary conditions are met, e.g. a sufficiently high number of validators for the consensus mechanism.

Criterion 4: There is no trustworthy central trust authority. In the case of Fairmazon, the FSCP could create such a central settlement authority, which all FSCP participants would then have to trust. However, this would entail technical and personnel costs as well as development and operating costs. In addition, such a centralised system would, of course, have to be protected against failure and thus be highly available.

In the case of the FSCP, a TTP is to be dispensed with for cost reasons. This is why the FSCP also utilises the Ethereum blockchain with its proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which is not implemented using proof-of-work but rather the much more cost-effective proof-of-stake mechanism.

Implementation within the Fairmazon Shared Cloud Platform (FSCP)

In both abovmentioned implementation steps are planning to use the public Ethereum blockchain on which smart contracts will implement the FSCP management functionality.

These smart contracts are transparent for the FSCP participants - they do not have to deal with the blockchain. The costs incurred by operating the smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain are likely to be only a fraction of the total costs incurred for operating the FSCP. And these, in turn, are likely to be far lower than those of traditional hyperscalers due to the use of blockchain and the resulting full automation of administrative processes.

Meeting the individual challenges of blockchain technology in detail in the case of the FSCP.

Scaling The problem of scaling is one of the main deficits of blockchain technology compared to centrally operated and managed systems. The main reasons for this are decentralized distribution and the equally distributed and therefore complex validation of individual transactions by the consensus algorithm. This is not a problem in the case of billing, as compensation at Fairmazon will still function many times faster than is the case with the usual monthly or weekly settlements of traditional platforms.

Storage requirements The blockchain concept envisages storing a complete copy of the blockchain on all participating nodes of the FSCP. In the case of Fairmazon, these are the computer nodes on which the respective FSCP administration instance runs. Due to the functional focus of the FSCP blockchain implementation, the data volumes generated here should prove to be manageable, especially if the duration of data storage for individual transactions is limited to the 10-year period required by tax law.

Pseudonymity This is not a challenge in terms of the FSCP, as all participants in the FSCP, whether users, providers or both, undergo an identity check so that there is always a link between pseudonym and identity and it is therefore always possible to trace which services have or have not been provided, by whom, to whom and at what price.

Irreversibility Once transactions have been carried out on the blockchain and validated by the consensus mechanism, they cannot be reversed or changed. This means that no errors can be “rolled back”. By gradually transferring the administrative logic of the FSCP to smart contracts and the associated repeated tests, the number of errors should be much more manageable and acceptable for all parties involved. In the event of a commercial loss, the participants in the FSCP are obliged to repay any funds received in error to other aggrieved parties.

Brief Legal Information

Imprint information according to German law (§ 5 TMG):

Lars Dibbern Dipl.-Ing. (FH)

Email

info [at] dibbern [dot] biz

FON/CEL

+49 (0)177 750 13 80

FAX

+49 (0)322 224 759 98

WEB

www.dibbern.biz

Address

Lars Dibbern Buchwaldstrasse 17C 60385 Frankfurt am Main

Copyright © Lars Dibbern

Privacy policy

1. data protection at a glance

General information The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data that can be used to identify you personally. For detailed information on the subject of data protection, please refer to our data protection declaration listed below this text. Data collection on this 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 “Information on the controller” section of this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

On the one hand, your data is collected when you provide it to us. This may, for example, be data that you enter in a contact form. Other data is collected by our IT systems automatically or with your consent when you visit the website. This is primarily technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system or time of page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this 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 analyze your user behavior.

What rights do you have with regard to your data?

You have the right to receive information about the origin, recipient and purpose of your stored personal data free of charge at any time. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given your consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time for the future. You also have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. You can contact us at any time if you have any further questions on the subject of data protection.

2. hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider:

External hosting

This website is hosted externally. The personal data collected on this website is stored on the servers of the hoster(s). This may include IP addresses, contact requests, meta and communication data, contract data, contact details, names, website accesses and other data generated via a website.

External hosting is carried out for the purpose of fulfilling the contract with our potential and existing customers (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR) and in the interest of a secure, fast and efficient provision of our online offer by a professional provider (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s terminal device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Our hoster(s) will only process your data to the extent necessary to fulfill its performance obligations and follow our instructions with regard to this data. We use the following host(s): dogado GmbH Antonio-Segni-Straße 11 D-44263 Dortmund

3. general notes and mandatory information

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 that can be used to identify you personally. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

We would like to point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g. when communicating by email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the responsible body The controller responsible for data processing on this website is

Lars Dibbern, August-Mackenrodt-Straße, 36093 Fulda Phone: +49 (0) 177 750 1350 Email: info@dibbern.biz

The controller 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, email addresses, etc.).

Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period has been specified in this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for processing the data no longer applies. If you assert a justified request for deletion or revoke your consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g. retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, deletion will take place after these reasons no longer apply. General information on the legal basis for data processing on this website If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a GDPR, insofar as special categories of data are processed in accordance with Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR. In the event of express consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or access to information in your end device (e.g. via device fingerprinting), the data processing is also carried out on the basis of Section 25 (1) of the GDPR. Consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required to fulfill the contract or to carry out pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if this is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. Information on the relevant legal bases in each individual case is provided in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy. Recipients of personal data As part of our business activities, we work together with various external bodies. In some cases, it is also necessary to transfer personal data to these external bodies. We only pass on personal data to external bodies if this is necessary in the context of fulfilling a contract, if we are legally obliged to do so (e.g. passing on data to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest in passing on the data in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR or if another legal basis allows the data to be passed on. When using processors, we only pass on our customers’ personal data on the basis of a valid contract for order processing. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation. Right to object to the collection of data in special cases and to direct marketing (Art. 21 GDPR) IF THE DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6 ABS. 1 LIT. E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA AT ANY TIME ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR 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 ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE OR DEFENSE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 PARA. 1 GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA ARE PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING INSOFAR AS IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 PARA. 2 GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of violations 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, place of work or place of the alleged violation. The right to lodge a 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 fulfillment 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 take place if it is technically feasible.

Information, correction and deletion

Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right 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 or deletion of this data at any time. You can contact us at any time with regard to this and other questions on the subject of personal data.

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 to do this. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases: If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we generally need time to check this. For the duration of the review, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of erasure. If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it for the exercise, defense or assertion of legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of its erasure. If you have lodged an objection in accordance with Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data - apart from its storage - may only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or of a Member State. SSL and TLS encryption This site uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or inquiries that you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line. If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

4. data collection on this website

Cookies

Our Internet pages use so-called “cookies”. Cookies are small data packets and do not cause any damage to your end device. They are stored on your device either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies). Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or they are automatically deleted by your web browser.

Cookies may originate from us (first-party cookies) or from third-party companies (so-called third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain services from third-party companies within websites (e.g. cookies for processing payment services). Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g. the shopping cart function or the display of videos). Other cookies can be used to evaluate user behavior or for advertising purposes.

Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process, to provide certain functions that you have requested (e.g. for the shopping cart function) or to optimize the website (e.g. cookies to measure the web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the storage of necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG); the consent can be revoked at any time. 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 closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be restricted. You can find out which cookies and services are used on this website in this privacy policy.

Contact form

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

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR if your request is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of the inquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time. We will retain the data you provide on the contact form until you request its deletion, revoke your consent for its storage, or the purpose for its storage no longer pertains (e.g. after fulfilling your request). Mandatory statutory provisions - in particular retention periods - remain unaffected.

Request by e-mail, telephone or fax

If you contact us by e-mail, telephone or fax, we will store and process your request, including all personal data (name, request), for the purpose of processing your request. We will not pass on this data without your consent.

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR if your request is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of the inquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time. The data you send to us via contact requests will remain with us until you ask us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions - in particular statutory retention periods - remain unaffected.

6. social media

Facebook Elements of the Facebook social network are integrated on this website. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland. However, according to Facebook, the data collected is also transferred to the USA and other third countries.

An overview of the Facebook social media elements can be found here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/?locale=de_DE. When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the Facebook server. Facebook receives the information that you have visited this website with your IP address. If you click on the Facebook “Like” button while you are logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of this website to your Facebook profile. This allows Facebook to associate your visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that, as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Facebook. Further information on this can be found in Facebook’s privacy policy at: https://de-de.facebook.com/privacy/explanation.

The use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time. Insofar as personal data is collected on our website with the help of the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). The joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of the data and its transfer to Facebook. The processing carried out by Facebook after forwarding is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations incumbent on us jointly have been set out in an agreement on joint processing. The text of the agreement can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing the data protection information when using the Facebook tool and for the secure implementation of the tool on our website in accordance with data protection law. Facebook is responsible for the data security of the Facebook products. You can assert data subject rights (e.g. requests for information) regarding the data processed by Facebook directly with Facebook. If you assert your data subject rights with us, we are obliged to forward them to Facebook. Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum, https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381 and https://www.facebook.com/policy.php.

The company is certified in accordance with the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA, which is intended to ensure compliance with European data protection standards for data processing in the USA. Every company certified under the DPF undertakes to comply with these data protection standards. Further information on this can be obtained from the provider at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/s/participant-search/participantdetail?contact=true&id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active

Instagram

Functions of the Instagram service are integrated on this website. These functions are offered by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.

When the social media element is active, a direct connection is established between your device and the Instagram server. Instagram thereby receives information about your visit to this website. If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of this website to your Instagram profile by clicking on the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate your visit to this website with your user account. We would like to point out that, as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Instagram.

The use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time. If personal data is collected on our website with the help of the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook or Instagram, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). The joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of the data and its transfer to Facebook or Instagram. The processing carried out by Facebook or Instagram after forwarding is not part of the joint responsibility. The obligations incumbent on us jointly have been set out in an agreement on joint processing. You can find the text of the agreement at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing the data protection information when using the Facebook or Instagram tool and for the secure implementation of the tool on our website in accordance with data protection law. Facebook is responsible for the data security of Facebook and Instagram products. You can assert data subject rights (e.g. requests for information) with regard to the data processed by Facebook or Instagram can be asserted directly with Facebook. If you assert your data subject rights with us, we are obliged to forward them to Facebook.

The data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum, https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/ and https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381.

Further information can be found in Instagram’s privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/.

The company is certified in accordance with the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA, which is intended to ensure compliance with European data protection standards for data processing in the USA. Every company certified under the DPF undertakes to comply with these data protection standards. Further information on this can be obtained from the provider at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/s/participant-search/participantdetail?contact=true&id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active

7. newsletter

Newsletter data

If you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we require an e-mail address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No further data is collected, or only on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The data entered in the newsletter registration form is processed exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You can revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the e-mail address and its use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the “Unsubscribe” link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations that have already taken place remains unaffected by the revocation. The data you provide us with for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter will be stored by us or the newsletter service provider until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and deleted from the newsletter distribution list after you unsubscribe from the newsletter or after the purpose no longer applies. We reserve the right to delete or block e-mail addresses from our newsletter distribution list at our own discretion within the scope of our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected by this.

After you unsubscribe from the newsletter distribution list, your e-mail address may be stored by us or the newsletter service provider in a blacklist if this is necessary to prevent future mailings. The data from the blacklist will only be used for this purpose and will not be merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with the legal requirements when sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). Storage in the blacklist is not limited in time. You can object to the storage if your interests outweigh our legitimate interest.

8. plugins and tools

Google Fonts (local hosting)

This site uses so-called Google Fonts, which are provided by Google, for the uniform display of fonts. Google Fonts are installed locally. There is no connection to Google servers.

Further information on Google Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.