Privacy Policy

1. Data Protection at a Glance

General information / About us

Berliner Verlag GmbH (hereinafter “Publisher”, “we”) operates this website as a service and information offering. Berliner Verlag GmbH is the controller of this website within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 7 GDPR. Further details can be found in our Legal Notice.

Your personal data are processed strictly in accordance with the statutory data‑protection provisions. The following information explains the nature, scope and purpose of the collection, processing and use of personal data.

These brief notes give you an easy-to-understand overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data are any data with which you can be personally identified. Detailed information can be found in the Privacy Policy set out below.

Data collection on this website

Who is responsible for the data collection on this website?

The data processing on this website is carried out by Berliner Verlag GmbH, which acts as controller pursuant to Art. 4 No. 7 GDPR. Further contact details can be found in the “Controller” section of this Privacy Policy and in the Legal Notice.

How do we collect your data?

On the one hand, your data are collected when you communicate them to us—for example by entering them into a contact form. Other data are collected automatically or with your consent by our IT systems when you visit the website. These are mainly technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system or time of page view). These data are collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

For what purposes do we use your data?

Some of the data are collected to ensure error‑free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour. Where contracts can be concluded or initiated via the website, the data transmitted are also processed for contract offers, orders or other enquiries.

What rights do you have with regard to your data?

You have the right at any time to obtain information free of charge about the origin, recipient and purpose of your stored personal data. You are also entitled to request the rectification or erasure of these data. If you have given consent to data processing, you may withdraw this consent at any time with effect for the future. You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. Furthermore, you have a right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

For this and any other questions on the subject of data protection, you can contact us at any time.

Analysis tools and third‑party tools

When you visit this website, your surfing behaviour can be statistically evaluated. This is carried out primarily using so‑called analysis programmes. Detailed information can be found in this Privacy Policy.

2. Hosting

External hosting

This website is hosted by an external service provider (“hoster”). The personal data collected on this website are stored on the hoster’s servers. These may include, in particular, IP addresses, contact requests, meta and communication data, contract data, contact details, names, website access data and other data generated by a website.

The external hosting takes place for the purpose of fulfilling our contractual obligations towards potential and existing customers (Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR) and in the interest of secure, fast and efficient provision of our online offer by a professional provider (Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR). Where consent has been obtained, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) German Telecommunications‑Digital Services Data Protection Act (TDDDG), 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 TDDDG. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

Our hoster processes your data only to the extent necessary to fulfil its performance obligations and follows our instructions with regard to these data.

We use the following hoster:

GoDaddy.com, LLC
2155 E GoDaddy Way, Tempe, Arizona 85284, United States

Data Processing Agreement

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with the above‑mentioned service provider. This is a contract required by data‑protection law to ensure that the provider processes our website visitors’ personal data only according to our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

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 are collected. Personal data are data with which you can be personally identified. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect and what we use them for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens.

Please note that data transmission over the internet (e.g. communication by e‑mail) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Controller

The controller responsible for data processing on this website is:

Berliner Verlag GmbH
Karl‑Liebknecht‑Straße 29, 10178 Berlin

Managing Directors:
Holger Friedrich (sole power of representation)
Christoph Stiller (jointly with another managing director)

Telephone: +49 30 633311 457
E‑mail: dsb@berlinerverlag.com

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, e‑mail addresses etc.).

Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period has been specified within this Privacy Policy, your personal data remain with us until the purpose for data processing no longer applies. If you assert a justified request for erasure or withdraw consent to data processing, your data will be erased 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, the data will be erased after these reasons cease to apply.

General information on the legal bases of data processing

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9 (2)(a) GDPR if special categories of data are processed pursuant to Art. 9 (1) GDPR. In the event of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is likewise based on Art. 49 (1)(a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access to information in your terminal device (e.g. via device fingerprinting), data processing is also based on § 25 (1) TDDDG. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. If your data are required for fulfilment of a contract or for implementation of pre‑contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if this is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6 (1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also take place on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. The legal bases applicable in each individual case are outlined in the following paragraphs of this Privacy Policy.

Data Protection Officer

We have appointed a Data Protection Officer.

VP Data Protection GmbH

Heidestraße 22, 13467 Berlin

E‑mail: dsb@berlinerverlag.com

Note on data transfers to non‑secure third countries and to US companies not certified under the EU–US Data Privacy Framework (DPF)

We use, among other things, tools from companies based in third countries that are not safe from a data‑protection perspective as well as US tools whose providers are not certified under the DPF. When these tools are active, your personal data can be transferred to these countries and processed there. We point out that in third countries that are not safe from a data‑protection perspective, a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed.

We point out that the USA is generally considered a safe third country with a level of data protection comparable to that of the EU. Data transfer to the USA is therefore permissible if the recipient has certification under the DPF or possesses suitable additional safeguards. Information on data transfers to third countries including data recipients can be found in this Privacy Policy.

Recipients of personal data

As part of our business activities we work together with various external entities. In some cases the transfer of personal data to these external entities is necessary. We transfer personal data only if this is required for the fulfilment of a contract, if we are legally obliged to do so (e.g. transfer of data to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR in the transfer or if another legal basis permits data transfer. When using processors, we transfer personal data of our customers only on the basis of a valid processing agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint‑processing agreement is concluded.
Withdrawal of your consent to data processing
Many data‑processing operations are possible only with your explicit consent. You may withdraw consent already given at any time. The lawfulness of data processing carried out until the withdrawal remains unaffected by the withdrawal.
Right to object to data collection in special cases and to direct advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)
IF DATA PROCESSING IS CARRIED OUT ON THE BASIS OF ART. 6 (1)(E) OR (F) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THOSE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED IS EXPLAINED IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU LODGE AN OBJECTION, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR AFFECTED PERSONAL DATA 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 DEFENCE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 (1) GDPR).
IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA ARE PROCESSED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL THEREAFTER NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 (2) GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of breaches of the GDPR, data subjects are entitled 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 breach. The right to lodge a complaint exists irrespective of any other administrative or judicial remedies.
Right to data portability
You have the right to receive data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfilment of a contract, or to have such data transferred to a third party in a commonly used, machine‑readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will be carried out only where technically feasible.
Access, rectification and erasure
Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions you have the right at any time to obtain information free of charge about your stored personal data, their origin and recipients and the purpose of data processing and, where applicable, a right to rectification or erasure of these data. For this and other questions relating to personal data you can contact us at any time.
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 for this purpose. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases:
• If you contest the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the verification you have the right to request 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 require them for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of erasure.
• If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR, a balancing of your and our interests must be carried out. As long as it is not yet clear whose interests prevail, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data.
If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, these data—apart from their storage—may be processed only with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defence 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 a Member State.

SSL or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or enquiries you send to us as site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock icon in your browser line.
When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.
Objection to advertising e‑mails
The use of contact data published within the scope of the imprint obligation to send advertising and information materials not expressly requested is hereby rejected. The operators of the pages expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited sending of advertising information, such as spam e‑mails.

4. Data Collection on this Website

Cookies

Our internet pages use so‑called “cookies”. Cookies are small data packages that do no damage to your terminal device. They are either stored temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your terminal device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your terminal device until you delete them yourself or automatic deletion is carried out by your web browser.

Cookies can 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. Numerous cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g. the shopping‑cart function or video display). Other cookies serve to evaluate user behaviour or for advertising purposes.

Cookies required to carry out the electronic communication process, to provide certain functions you have requested (e.g. for the shopping‑cart function) or to optimise the website (e.g. cookies to measure the web audience) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 (1)(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 optimised provision of its services. Where consent to the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on this basis (Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TDDDG); consent can be withdrawn 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 acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate automatic deletion of cookies when the browser is closed. Disabling cookies may restrict the functionality of this website.

The cookies and services used on this website are listed in this Privacy Policy.

Consent with Borlabs Cookie

Our website uses the Borlabs Cookie consent technology to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies in your browser and to document this in a data‑protection‑compliant manner. The provider of this technology is Borlabs GmbH, Rübenkamp 32, 22305 Hamburg, Germany (hereinafter “Borlabs”).

When you enter our website, a Borlabs cookie is stored in your browser, in which the consents you have given or the withdrawal of these consents are stored. These data are not passed on to the Borlabs provider.

The collected data are stored until you request us to delete them or delete the Borlabs cookie yourself or the purpose for data storage no longer applies. Mandatory statutory retention periods remain unaffected. Details on data processing by Borlabs Cookie can be found at https://de.borlabs.io/kb/welche-daten-speichert-borlabs-cookie/.

The use of the Borlabs Cookie consent technology is carried out to obtain the legally required consents for the use of cookies.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1)(c) GDPR.

5. Data Collection in the User Account and for Orders / Subscriptions

5.1 Registration

To register we require a valid e‑mail address and a self‑chosen password. The legal basis for processing these data is Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR. You can delete your user account by sending an e‑mail to leserservice@weltbuehne.com.
We store your data for as long as your user account exists.
If an active subscription is in place or an order has been placed, the data stored in the account are retained, insofar as necessary, for the duration of the statutory retention periods.
Deletion of the user account is not possible before the end of the term of an existing subscription.

5.2 Contract processing and service providers

In the course of contract handling and processing we forward your data in part to our payment, distribution, marketing and other service providers. These service providers support us in fulfilling the contract. We oblige the service providers engaged by us neither to use your data for their own purposes nor to pass them on to others.
(a) Orders, subscriptions and other contract‑related enquiries
When you place an order or take out a subscription we process your personal data (address, contact and communication data and, where applicable, bank and credit‑card data) for processing the order / subscription, for invoicing and/or for performance of the contract. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR.
For subscription orders via this website you must register. Where data are designated as mandatory fields, they are required for contract processing (Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR). You can manage your data yourself in the “Self‑Service Centre”.
For operation of the subscription shop, in particular subscription management and billing, we use the platform of Frisbii Media GmbH.
The data provided in the ordering process (name, address, contact data, e‑mail address, subscription data, customer‑account data, financial data) are processed on our behalf by
Frisbii Germany GmbH, Mainzer Landstraße 51, 60329 Frankfurt am Main.
Further information about data use by Frisbii and settings and objection options can be found in the Privacy Policy of Frisbii Media GmbH at https://frisbii.com/de/datenschutzhinweise/.
(b) Payment processing
We collect payment data for the purpose of processing payments to fulfil the subscription contract. For this purpose we have integrated various payment service providers. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR. In the event of payment default we reserve the right to assign our claims to a collection agency or to commission such an agency; billing data will then be transferred to the collection service provider.
Payment is possible by credit card, SEPA direct debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal.

Payment by SEPA direct debit
If you pay by direct debit we process your name, IBAN and optionally BIC. Processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1)(b) GDPR.

Payments by credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay and PayPal
are processed by our service provider
Stripe Payments Europe Limited (SPEL), 1 Grand Canal Street Lower, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin D02 H210, Ireland.
Stripe’s Privacy Policy can be found at https://stripe.com/at/privacy.
5.3 Amazon Polly
We use Amazon Polly to create audio versions of our text articles. Users can thus have written texts read out in a human voice. This enables users and customers with visual impairments to consume the articles.
The legal basis is Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR, as we consider the reading aloud of text to be just as essential for people with visual impairments as the display of text on the screen is for people without visual impairments. This also constitutes our legitimate interest.

6. Analysis Tools and Advertising

Google Tag Manager

We use Google Tag Manager, a service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Google Tag Manager is a tool that allows us to integrate tracking or statistics tools and other technologies on our website. The Tag Manager itself does not create user profiles, store cookies or conduct its own analyses. It merely manages and deploys the tools integrated via it. However, Google Tag Manager records your IP address, which may be transmitted to the parent company of Google in the United States.
The use of Google Tag Manager is based on Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the quick and uncomplicated integration and management of various tools on its website. Where consent has been obtained, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TDDDG. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
The company is certified under the EU–US Data Privacy Framework.
Google Analytics
This website uses functions of the Google Analytics web‑analysis service provided by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Google Analytics enables the website operator to analyse the behaviour of website visitors. The operator receives various usage data such as page views, length of stay, operating systems used and the origin of the user. These data are assigned to the respective end device of the user. A matching to a user ID does not take place.
In addition, Google Analytics can record your mouse and scroll movements and clicks, and uses various modelling approaches and machine‑learning technologies.
Google Analytics uses technologies that enable the recognition of the user for the purpose of analysing user behaviour (e.g. cookies or device fingerprinting). The information collected by Google about the use of this website is generally transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.
The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TDDDG. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission.
You can find details here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/controllerterms/mccs/.
The company is certified under the EU–US Data Privacy Framework.
More information here: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5780.
IP anonymisation
We have activated IP anonymisation on this website. As a result, your IP address is truncated by Google within Member States of the European Union or other parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before being transmitted to the USA. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address sent to a Google server in the USA and truncated there.
Browser plug‑in
You can prevent the collection and processing of your data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug‑in available at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.
More information on how Google Analytics handles user data can be found in Google’s Privacy Policy at https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245.
Data Processing Agreement
We have entered into a data‑processing agreement with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data‑protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

6. Plugins and Tools

Adobe Fonts
This website uses web fonts from Adobe for the uniform display of certain fonts. Provider is Adobe Systems Incorporated, 345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110‑2704, USA (Adobe).
When this website is called up, your browser loads the required fonts directly from Adobe in order to display them correctly on your device. In doing so, your browser establishes a connection to Adobe servers in the USA. Adobe thus becomes aware that this website has been accessed via your IP address. According to Adobe, no cookies are stored when the fonts are provided.
The storage and analysis of the data is based on Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR; the website operator has a legitimate interest in the uniform presentation of the typeface on its website. Where consent has been obtained, processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TDDDG. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission.
You can find details here: https://www.adobe.com/de/privacy/eudatatransfers.html.
More Informationen about Adobe Fonts you find here: https://www.adobe.com/de/privacy/policies/adobe-fonts.html.
The privacy policy of Adobe you find here: https://www.adobe.com/de/privacy/policy.html
Font Awesome (local hosting)
This site uses Font Awesome for uniform display of fonts. Font Awesome is installed locally. A connection to servers of Fonticons, Inc. does not take place.
Further information about Font Awesome can be found in the privacy statement for Font Awesome at https://fontawesome.com/privacy.
SolidWP
We have integrated SolidWP on this website. Provider is iThemes Media LLC, 1720 South Kelly Avenue, Edmond, OK 73013, USA (“SolidWP”).
SolidWP serves to protect our website from unwanted access or malicious cyberattacks. For this purpose SolidWP collects your IP address, time and source of login attempts and log data (e.g. the browser used). SolidWP is installed locally on our servers.
SolidWP transmits IP addresses of recurrent attackers to a SolidWP central database in the USA (Network Brute Force Protection) to prevent future attacks.
The use of SolidWP is based on Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. Where consent has been obtained, processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TDDDG.
ManageWP
We manage this website with the help of ManageWP. Provider is GoDaddy.com WP Europe, Trg republike 5, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
With ManageWP we can monitor, inter alia, the security and performance of our website and create automatic backups. ManageWP therefore has access to all website content including our databases. ManageWP is hosted on the provider’s servers.
The use of ManageWP is based on Art. 6 (1)(f) GDPR. Where consent has been obtained, processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 (1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TDDDG.
The company is certified under the EU–US Data Privacy Framework.
Data Processing Agreement
We have concluded a DPA with the above‑mentioned provider that obliges it to process personal data of our website visitors only on our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.
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This English version is a faithful translation of the original German Privacy Policy. In the event of doubt, the German text shall prevail.