Terms of use

This website has been created and published by Rare & Fine Vintage Watches AG (hereinafter referred to as RARE & FINE) with its registered office in Switzerland, Fraumünsterstrasse 27, 8001 Zurich, registered in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich under the number CHE-312.002.958 (compare legal information in the section Imprint).

The use of this website is subject to the following terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, please refrain from further use or revisiting this website. By using this website, you explicitly declare that these conditions were accessible to you and that you agree with them.

RARE & FINE reserves the right to change these Terms of Use, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. Except upon express notice, all information, statements, goods and services on this site will be subject to the new terms immediately. Continued use of the RARE & FINE Web site shall be deemed acceptance of such changes.

LIMITATION OF USE

You use the RARE & FINE Web Site at your own risk and are therefore responsible for compliance with all applicable local laws. This applies in particular to cases where access to or use of the RARE & FINE website may be prohibited by law in certain countries. In this case, use is prohibited. 

DATA PROTECTION

When you visit our website, certain data is automatically collected (e.g. cookies, evaluation using Google Analytics, etc.). The privacy policy is therefore valid when visiting our website. You can find the privacy policy here. (LINK)

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY / LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

All content on this website is for general information purposes only and we endeavor to ensure that the content is accurate, up to date, error free and does not infringe any third party rights.

However, to the extent permitted by law, RARE & FINE makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, operability, merchantability, completeness, (satisfactory) quality, fitness for any purpose, non-infringement or absence of defects of the goods and services presented on this website.

Likewise, RARE & FINE (to the extent permitted by law) assumes no liability or warranty for the results obtained from the use of the information provided. All statements, information, downloadable data and files, etc. on this website are provided without warranty as to their correctness, completeness, accuracy, consistency, warranties of characteristics, specific results or the like.

To the extent permitted by law, RARE & FINE cannot in any event (explicitly or implicitly) accept any liability for the information provided; neither for losses or damages of any kind nor indirect damages and/or consequential or incidental damages. RARE & FINE also assumes no liability for punitive or incidental loss or damage (including, but not limited to, loss of profits, data, other intangible property, the cost of procurement of substitute goods or services) arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the information provided. FINE shall not be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, data, other intangible property, costs of procurement of substitute goods or services) arising out of or in connection with the access of, use of, or linking to other sites or services from the site (including, without limitation, direct access to or downloading of data or files, including, without limitation, screensavers and other computer software available from the site), even if RARE & FINE has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

RARE & FINE further assumes no responsibility and makes no warranties that the functions, content, downloadable files and software on this site will be error-free (including, but not limited to, computer viruses, Trojan horses, malicious code that may interfere with the proper working of any software, hardware or other equipment or materials) or uninterrupted, that defects will be corrected or that this site or the servers are free of harmful components. Access to the RARE & FINE website may be interrupted or impossible at any time, in particular during maintenance and improvement work on the website.

RARE & FINE reserves the right at all times to change the information provided or offered on this website regarding goods and services without prior notice or to no longer offer goods and services. In any case, the availability and stock of specified goods and services remains reserved. If available, price quotations on this website are made without guarantee for their correctness in the retail or wholesale trade.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

All intellectual property rights (in particular copyright, trademark, design and patent rights) to the contents of this website are reserved. Images, text, graphics, computer software, etc. contained, presented or downloadable from this website may not be copied, downloaded or otherwise used in any way unless otherwise stated. The downloading or printing of individual pages and/or sections of this website is permitted, provided that neither the copyright notices nor other legally protected designations are removed and the source is fully acknowledged. If data or programs are downloaded from this website or reproduced in any other way, all ownership and intellectual property rights thereto shall remain with RARE & FINE or any third party rights holder.

You may not reproduce (in whole or in part), transmit (by electronic means or otherwise), modify, link into or use for any public or commercial purpose this website without RARE & FINE’s prior written permission and full acknowledgement of the source. RARE & FINE does not grant any rights (including but not limited to intellectual property rights) to users of the RARE & FINE website other than those rights necessary to use the RARE & FINE website.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES

Some images on our website are therefore the property of third parties. The relevant provisions in the preceding paragraph therefore also apply with respect to the intellectual property rights of third parties.

LINKS

The creation of links to pages of this website requires the prior written consent of RARE & FINE. Framing of pages of this website (i.e. embedding in another website) is not permitted.

Some links on this website refer to websites set up by third parties. RARE & FINE has no control over these websites and the information, goods or services offered, presented or indicated there, nor has it reviewed these websites or their contents. RARE & FINE assumes no responsibility or liability for the content of such third party websites. The use of links to third party websites expressly does not mean that RARE & FINE endorses, recommends, or makes any warranty or assumes any liability with respect thereto.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Information, offers, illustrations, etc. of goods and services on this website are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute a solicitation, offer or recommendation to purchase any goods or to use any services. Only the goods and services actually offered, including prices at RARE & FINE’s place of business, are authoritative.

RARE & FINE is not obliged to answer any requests for quotations or prices or to accept any orders made or sent on the basis of information, details, illustrations, etc. on the RARE & FINE website. In particular, RARE & FINE reserves the right not to respond to requests sent by e-mail. RARE & FINE further disclaims any responsibility for the receipt of inquiries, orders, requests for quotations or prices, etc. sent by e-mail or otherwise.

Even if the use of this website is permitted for any person, it should not be inferred that the goods and services presented on this website are actually available in or delivered to any particular state or territory.

APPLICABLE LAW AND JURISDICTION

The foregoing provisions and the use of this website (including inquiries, offers, orders, etc. resulting from the use of this website) shall be governed by substantive Swiss law, excluding its conflict of law provisions.

The exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising in connection with the above provisions and the use of this website (including inquiries, offers, orders, etc. resulting from the use of this website) is Zurich, Switzerland. However, Rare & Fine Vintage Watches has the right to proceed before any other competent court.

Last Updated: February 2022

Privacy Policy

 

This website was created and published by Rare & Fine Vintage Watches AG, based in Switzerland, Fraumuensterstrasse 27, 8011 Zurich, registered in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich under the number: CHE-312.002.958, accessible at info@rareandfine.com.

We, i.e. Rare & Fine Vintage Watches AG, are the data controller according to Art. 4 No. 7 DSGVO for the collection, processing and use of your personal data and data processing in compliance with the law. However, for selected data processing in connection with the conclusion of a contract via the website, Rare & Fine Vintage Watches AG is the sole data protection controller.

We are committed to handling your personal data responsibly. Consequently, we consider it a matter of course to comply with the legal requirements of the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (FADP), the Ordinance to the Federal Data Protection Act (FADP), the Telecommunications Act (TCA) as well as the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) and other provisions of Swiss and European data protection law.
In the following, we would like to inform you about how we handle your personal data.

1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND USE OF PERSONAL DATA

a. When you visit our website

When you visit our website, our servers temporarily store each access in a log file.

The following data is stored by us in the process:
– the IP address of the requesting computer,
– date and time of access,
– name and URL of the retrieved data,
– the website from which our domain was accessed,
– the operating system of your computer, the browser you are using and language,
– the country from which our website was accessed.

The collection and processing of this data is generally anonymized without personal reference for the purpose of enabling the use of the website (connection establishment), to ensure system security and stability on a permanent basis and to optimize the Internet offering, as well as for internal statistical purposes.
Only in the event of an attack on the network infrastructure of https://www.rareandfine.com or if there is a suspicion of other unauthorized or abusive website use will the IP address be evaluated for the purpose of clarification and defense and, if necessary, used in the context of criminal proceedings to identify and take civil and criminal action against the users concerned.

In the purposes described above, there is our legitimate interest in data processing within the meaning of Art. 13 para.1 DSG or Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f EU-DSGVO. The data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required to achieve the purpose for which they were collected. In the case of the collection of data for the provision of the website, this is the case when the respective session has ended.

In the case of storage of data in log files, this is the case after 7 days at the latest. Storage beyond this period is possible. In this case, the IP addresses of the users are deleted or alienated, so that an assignment of the calling client is no longer possible.

The collection of data for the provision of the website and the storage of the data in log files is mandatory for the operation of the website.

b. When using the contact form

In order to contact us by means of a form, the truthful entry of the following personal data and information (*mandatory) is required:

– Subject*
– First name*
– Given name,*
– Country*
– e-mail*
– Phone number*
– Message*

We need this information to process your contact request.

The processing of your contact request is our legal basis in the sense of Article 13 para.1 or 2 DSG or Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b or f EU-DSGVO. If we do not fulfill any (pre)contractual obligations towards you, the permissible element of our legitimate interest permits the processing of personal data. Our legitimate interest is to process your contact request.

The data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required to achieve the purpose for which they were collected. This is the case when the respective conversation with the user has ended. The conversation is terminated when it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified.

c. When registering for our Rare&Fine newsletter

In order to receive the newsletter, the truthful entry of the following personal data and information (*mandatory) is required:

– First name*
– Surname*
– Country*
– E-mail*

After entering the above information, you can trigger the registration for our newsletter. We use the double opt-in mechanism for this. After sending the registration you will receive an e-mail from us, which contains a confirmation link. To definitely register for the newsletter, you must confirm this link. By registering for the newsletter, you give us your consent to process the data provided for the regular dispatch of the newsletter to the address you have provided. This consent constitutes our legal basis for the processing of your data in the sense of Art. 13 para. 1 DSG or Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a EU-DSGVO.

We will use your data for newsletter distribution until you revoke your consent, but for a maximum period of three years from your last contact with us. You can revoke your consent at any time. In addition, you will find an unsubscribe link in all newsletter e-mails.

d. When using the contact form for the respective product

In order to contact us via the contact form for the respective product, the truthful entry of the following personal data and information (*mandatory) is required:

– Subject*
– First name*
– Given name,*
– Country*
– e-mail*
– Phone number*
– Message*

We need this information to process your contact request.
The processing of your contact request is our legal basis within the meaning of Article 13 (1) or (2) DSG or Art. 6 (1) lit. b or f EU-DSGVO. Provided that we do not fulfill any (pre-)contractual obligations towards you, the permissible element of our legitimate interest permits the processing of personal data within the scope of our legitimate interest. Our legitimate interest is to process your contact request.

2. CENTRAL STORAGE

We store the data provided in the aforementioned paragraphs in a central electronic data processing system. The data concerning you will be systematically recorded, linked and evaluated for the purpose of processing your inquiries and handling our services.

We base this processing on our legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 13 Para. 1 DSG or Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f EU-DSGVO in customer-friendly and efficient customer data management. In addition, we base the processing of this data on the fulfillment of the contract within the meaning of Art. 13 para. 2 lit. a DSG or Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b EU-DSGVO.

3. DISCLOSURE OF DATA TO THIRD PARTIES

We will only pass on your data if you have expressly consented to this, if we are obliged to do so by law or if this is necessary to assert our rights. Furthermore, we transfer your data to companies of RARE & FINE VINTAGE WATCHES AG as mentioned at the beginning.

Furthermore, we pass on personal data of users to third parties as far as this is necessary in the context of the use of the website as well as to answer questions, process requests or to provide services requested by the user, if applicable. The use of the data disclosed for this purpose by the third parties is strictly limited to the aforementioned purposes. We transfer your personal data to the following categories of external agents or service providers to the extent necessary:
o IT service providers and/or providers of data hosting or data processing or similar services;
o other service providers, providers of tools and software solutions that also assist us in providing our services and act on our behalf;
o any third parties involved in the fulfillment of our obligations to you (such as parcel service providers for the delivery of your webshop order to you, payment service providers for the processing of payments in the webshop, banks for the processing of payments);
o other external third parties to the extent necessary (e.g. auditors, insurance companies in the event of an insurance claim, legal representatives in the event of an incident, etc.);
o Authorities and other public bodies to the extent required by law (e.g. tax authorities, etc.).

Other third-party service providers are explicitly mentioned in this Privacy Policy (e.g. in section 4 Use for marketing purposes, section 7 Tracking tools).

4. USE FOR MARKETING PURPOSES

a. Newsletter and other marketing campaigns
By subscribing to the newsletter, you expressly agree that we may use your address and personal data for marketing campaigns such as the delivery of the Rare & Fine Vintage Watches AG newsletter and/or the mailing of catalogs. We base the data processing on Art. 13 para. 1 DSG or Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a EU-DSGVO. You can unsubscribe from all marketing campaigns at any time.
For sending our newsletter, we use e-mail marketing services of Mailchimp (“Mailchimp”), 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE Suite 5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA. You can object to these data processing operations at any time if there are reasons in your particular situation that speak against data processing whereby the newsletter data may be passed on to Mailchimp for this purpose. The newsletter data is stored on the hosting server of the website as well as on servers of Mailchimp within.
Our newsletter may contain a so-called web beacon (tracking pixel) or similar technical means. Web beacons are linked to the user ID of the respective newsletter subscriber.

This allows us to track your user behavior and better tailor the information and offers in our newsletter to your interests. The tracking pixel is deleted when you delete the newsletter. We process this data for statistical purposes and optimization of the newsletter.

We base this data processing on Art. 13 para. 1 DSG or Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f EU-DSGVO. This authorization permits the processing of personal data within the scope of our legitimate interest. The legitimate interest consists of direct marketing and analysis of the use of the newsletter.

b. Google Marketing Platform
With your prior consent pursuant to Art. 13 (1) DSG or Art. 6 (1) lit. a EU-DSGVO, we use on this website services of the Google Marketing Platform, a service of Google Inc, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (“Google”). Google uses cookies for this purpose, which enable recognition of the browser used by the user when visiting other websites. The information generated by the cookie about your visit to these websites (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

Google uses this information to evaluate the use of the website with regard to the ads to be placed, to compile reports on website activity and ads for website operators, to evaluate conversion and remarketing cookies, to manage marketing tags and cross-search engine campaigns or to prevent a user from seeing the same ads more than once.
More information about Google’s privacy policy in general: https://policies.google.com/ and http://www.google.com/privacy/ads.
You can revoke your consent at any time or disable the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser software.

You can further revoke or deactivate your consent to the use of cookies that are used for reach measurement and advertising purposes at any time. You can find the options here:
http://www.aboutads.info/choices
http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices

5. TRANSFER OF PERSONAL DATA ABROAD

We are entitled to transfer your data to third party companies abroad if this is necessary in connection with the processing of your inquiries, the provision of services and marketing campaigns.
These third party companies are required to maintain the privacy of users to the same extent as the provider itself. If the level of data protection in a country is deemed inappropriate for Swiss conditions or for the purposes of the EU General Data Protection Regulation, we use a contract to ensure that your personal data is protected at all times in accordance with Swiss guidelines or the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

Most service providers are located in Switzerland, ORT or ORT. The website is hosted on servers operated by Hosting Partner, Onlime GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland. In contrast, some of the third-party service providers mentioned in this privacy policy are located in the USA (see section 7 Tracking tools and section 16 Social media functionalities). Further information on data transfers to the USA can be found in section 8.

6. COOKIES

Cookies help in many aspects to make your visit to our website easier, more pleasant and more meaningful. Cookies are information files that your web browser automatically stores on your computer’s hard drive when you visit our website.
For example, we use cookies to temporarily store your input when you fill out a form on the website so that you do not have to repeat your input when you visit another subpage.
Most Internet browsers accept cookies automatically. However, you can configure your browser so that no cookies are stored on your computer or a message always appears when you receive a new cookie. In this way, it is also possible to implement an objection to the setting of cookies and the collection of personal data.
The deactivation of technically mandatory cookies may mean that you cannot use all the functions of our website.

7. TRACKING TOOLS

a. Google Analytics
With your prior consent pursuant to Art. 13 (1) DSG or Art. 6 (1) lit. a EU-DSGVO, the website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc, 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA. Google Analytics uses methods that enable an analysis of the use of the website, such as cookies (see section 6 Cookies). The following information generated by the cookie about your use of this website
– Navigation path that a visitor takes on the site,
– the time spent on the website or sub-page,
– the sub-page on which the website is left,
– the country, region or city from which access is made,
– terminal device (type, version, color depth, resolution, width and height of the browser window),
– Returning or new visitor,
– Browser type/version,
– Operating system used,
– Referrer URL (the previously visited page),
– host name of the accessing computer (IP address) and
– time of the server request
are transmitted to servers of Google, a company of the holding company Alphabet Inc. in the USA and stored there. In doing so, the IP address is shortened by activating IP anonymization (“anonymizeIP”) on this website before transmission within the Member States of the European Union or in other contracting states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland. The anonymized IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other data from Google. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. In these cases, we ensure through contractual guarantees that Google maintains a sufficient level of data protection.
The information is used to evaluate the use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide other services related to the use of the website and internet usage for the purposes of market research and demand-oriented website design. This information may also be transferred to third parties if this is required by law or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google. According to Google, in no case will the IP address be associated with other data relating to the user.
Information on the corresponding cookie storage period can be found on our cookie overview page.
Users can prevent the collection of the data generated by the cookie and related to the website use by the user concerned (including the IP address) to Google as well as the processing of this data by Google by revoking their consent or by downloading and installing the browser plugin available under the following link:
http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de
As an alternative to the browser plugin, users can click this link to prevent the collection by Google Analytics on the website in the future. In doing so, an opt-out cookie will be stored on the user’s terminal device. If users delete cookies (see section 6 Cookies), the link must be clicked again.

8. NOTE ON DATA TRANSFERS TO THE USA

For the sake of completeness, we note that the U.S. authorities may carry out surveillance measures under U.S. legislation, under which the general storage of all data transferred from the European Union or Switzerland to the United States is possible. This is done without distinction, limitation or exception based on the objective pursued and without objective criteria that would make it possible to limit the access of the U.S. authorities to Personal Data and its subsequent use to specific, strictly limited purposes that would justify access to such data.
We would like to point out to users residing in a member state of the EU or Switzerland that, from the perspective of the European Union and Switzerland, the U.S. does not have an adequate level of data protection, in part due to the issues mentioned in this section. Insofar as we have explained in this privacy policy that recipients of data (such as Google or Facebook) are based in the USA, we will ensure by means of contractual arrangements or other assurances with these companies that your data is protected with an appropriate level. If this is not possible, we will only carry out corresponding data transfers based on your consent, which we will request at a suitable point (e.g. via a cookie banner).

9. RIGHT TO THE FUTURE, RECTIFICATION, DELETION AND RESTRICTION OF PROCESSING; RIGHT TO DATA PORTABILITY; RIGHT OF COMPLAINT.

You may object to data processing at any time, especially data processing related to direct marketing (e.g., object to promotional emails). You also have the following rights:
– Right to information
You have the right to request at any time, free of charge, to inspect your personal data stored by us when we process it. This gives you the opportunity to check what personal data we are processing about you and that we are using it in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.
– Right to rectification
You have the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected and to be informed about the correction. In this case, we will inform the recipients of the data concerned of the adjustments made, unless this is impossible or involves disproportionate effort.
– Right to deletion
You have the right to have your personal data deleted under certain circumstances. In individual cases, the right to erasure may be excluded.
– Right to restriction of processing:
Under certain circumstances, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.
– Right to data transfer:
Under certain circumstances, you have the right to receive from us, free of charge, the personal data that you have provided to us in a readable format.
– Right to complain:
You have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority against the way we process your personal data.
– Right of withdrawal:
In principle, you have the right to revoke any consent you have given at any time. However, processing activities based on your consent in the past will not become unlawful as a result of your revocation.

10. NOTES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS

The Rare & Fine Vintage Watches AG website is aimed at an adult audience. Minors, especially children, are prohibited from submitting personal data about themselves to us or registering for a service. If we discover that such data has been transmitted to us, it will be deleted from our database. The parents (or legal representative) of the child may contact us and request deletion or deregistration. To do so, we require a copy of an official document that identifies you as the parent or legal guardian.

11. DATA SECURITY

We use appropriate technical and organizational security measures as we deem appropriate to protect the data we hold about you from manipulation, partial or total loss and unauthorized access by third parties. Our security measures are continuously adapted in line with technological developments.

We also take our own internal data protection very seriously. Our employees and the service companies commissioned by us are obliged to maintain confidentiality and to comply with the provisions of data protection law. Moreover, they are only granted access to personal data to the extent necessary.

12. STORAGE OF DATA

We store personal data only for as long as is necessary
– to use the aforementioned tracking services within the scope of our legitimate interest;
– to carry out services to the extent mentioned above, which you have requested or to which you have given your consent.
Contractual data will be retained by us for longer periods of time as required by legal retention obligations. Retention obligations that require us to retain data arise from accounting regulations and tax regulations. According to these regulations, business communication, concluded contracts and accounting vouchers must be kept for up to 10 years. As far as we do not need these data any more for the execution of the services for you, the data are blocked. This means that the data may then only be used to fulfill our retention obligations.

13. CONTACT AND CONTACT DETAILS OF THE DATA PROTECTION OFFICER

If you have any questions about data protection on our website, would like to request information or would like to have your data deleted, please contact us by filling out the relevant online contact form or by sending an e-mail to info@rareandfine.com.

14. RIGHT OF APPEAL TO A SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY
Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes applicable law. The competent supervisory authority in Switzerland is the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).

15. AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING IN INDIVIDUAL CASES, INCLUDING PROFILING.

You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing – including profiling – which produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you. This does not apply if the decision
1. is necessary for the conclusion or performance of a contract between you and the controller,
2. is permissible on the basis of applicable legal provisions to which the controller is subject and these legal provisions contain appropriate measures to protect your rights and freedoms as well as your legitimate interests; or
3. is made with your express consent.

However, these decisions may not be based on special categories of personal data unless appropriate measures have been taken to protect the rights and freedoms as well as your legitimate interests.
With regard to the cases mentioned in 1. and 3. above, the controller shall take reasonable steps to safeguard the rights and freedoms as well as your legitimate interests, including at least the right to obtain the intervention of a person on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and to contest the decision.

16. SOCIAL MEDIA FUNCTIONALITIES

a. Social Media Links
On our website you will find links to social networks. These are not plugins provided by the provider, which, without the user having any influence, already transmit data to the provider when the page is loaded. Behind the buttons to the social media networks is merely a link to the social network including transfer of the website to be shared. No user data is transmitted from the website to the social network.
We provide social media functionalities of the following social networks:
– Facebook Inc, 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
– Instagram Inc, 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.

When you press on the relevant social network icons, you will be linked to the relevant social network to perform the selected functionality, e.g. to share a content on Facebook or to tweet on Twitter. To do this, however, you must log in to your corresponding user account or already be logged in.
When you select one of the functionalities provided and click on the icon of the relevant social network, a direct connection is established between your browser and the server of the relevant social network. This provides the network with the information that you have visited our website with your IP address and called up the link. If you call up a link to a network while you are logged into your account with the network in question, the content of our site may be linked to your profile with the network, which means that the network can assign your visit to our website directly to your user account. If you want to prevent this, you should log out before activating corresponding links. An assignment will take place in any case if you log in to the relevant network after activating the link.

b. Links to our own social media presences

On our website, we have included links to our social media profiles on the following social networks:
– Facebook Inc, 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
– Instagram Inc, 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.

If you press on the relevant social network icons, you will automatically be redirected to our profile on the relevant network. In order to use the functions of the relevant network there, you must partially log in to your user account with the relevant network.

When you call up a link to one of our social media profiles, a direct connection is established between your browser and the server of the social network in question. This provides the network with the information that you have visited our website with your IP address and called up the link. If you call up a link to a network while logged into your account with the network in question, the content of our site may be linked to your profile with the network, which means that the network can assign your visit to our website directly to your user account. If you want to prevent this, you should log out before activating corresponding links. An assignment will take place in any case if you log in to the relevant network after activating the link.

17. NOTE ON DATA TRANSFERS TO THE USA

For the sake of completeness, we note that the U.S. authorities may carry out surveillance measures within the scope of U.S. legislation, in the context of which the general storage of all data forwarded from the European Union or Switzerland to the U.S. is possible. This is done without distinction, limitation or exception based on the objective pursued and without objective criteria that would make it possible to limit the access of the U.S. authorities to Personal Data and its subsequent use to specific, strictly limited purposes that would justify access to such data.
We would like to point out to users residing in a member state of the EU or Switzerland that, from the perspective of the European Union and Switzerland, the U.S. does not have an adequate level of data protection, in part due to the issues mentioned in this section. Insofar as we have explained in this privacy policy that recipients of data (such as Google or Facebook) are based in the USA, we will ensure by means of contractual arrangements or other assurances with these companies that your data is protected with an appropriate level. If this is not possible, we will only carry out corresponding data transfers based on your consent, which we will request at a suitable point (e.g. via a cookie banner).