Data protection at FORTÉ Germany: How we protect your data

We, FORTÉ Germany GmbH, take the protection of your personal data very seriously and only process personal data when you visit our website in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations.

This Privacy Policy contains information about our privacy practices and the choices available to you, including how FORTÉ Germany collects and uses your information online.

Our privacy policy should be simple and understandable for everyone. The privacy policy generally uses the official terms of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The official definitions are explained in Art. 4 GDPR.

If you have any questions, please contact us at datenschutzbeauftragter@datenschutzexperte.de

Accessing and storing information in terminal equipment

By using our website, information (e.g. IP address) may be accessed or information (e.g. cookies) may be stored in your end devices. This access or storage may involve further processing of personal data within the meaning of the GDPR.

In cases in which such access to information or such storage of information is absolutely necessary for the technically error-free provision of our services, this is done on the basis of Section 25 (1) sentence 1, (2) no. 2 TTDSG.

In cases in which such a process serves other purposes (e.g. the needs-based design of our website), this is only carried out on the basis of Section 25 (1) TTDSG with your consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. Consent can be revoked at any time for the future.

Further information on the processing of your personal data and the relevant legal bases in this context can be found in the following sections on the specific processing activities on our website.

What will my personal data be used and/or passed on for? How long will data be stored?

Your personal data will not be transferred to third parties, except,

if we have explicitly indicated this in the description of the respective data processing.
if you have given your express consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR,
if the disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding interest worthy of protection in not disclosing your data,
in the event that there is a legal obligation for disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c GDPR and
insofar as this is necessary for the processing of contractual relationships with you in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR.

We also use external service providers for the processing of our services, which we have carefully selected and with whom we have concluded order processing contracts in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR where necessary. They are bound by our instructions and are regularly monitored by us. These are service providers for web hosting, sending e-mails and maintaining and servicing our IT systems, etc. The service providers will not pass this data on to third parties.

The duration of the storage of personal data is based on the relevant statutory retention periods (e.g. from commercial law and tax law). After expiry of the respective period, the corresponding data is routinely deleted. If data is required for contract fulfillment or contract initiation or if we have a legitimate interest in further storage, the data will be deleted if it is no longer required for these purposes or if you exercise your right of revocation or objection.

Which of my data is collected or processed by FORTÉ Germany?

When you visit our websites, our web servers temporarily store every access in a log file. The following data is recorded and stored until it is automatically deleted, i.e. after 7 days:

IP address of the requesting computer, which is immediately anonymized
Date and time of access
Name and URL of the retrieved data
Amount of data transferred
Messages indicating whether the retrieval was successful
Recognition data of the browser and operating system used
Website from which access is made
Name of your Internet access provider

This data is processed for the purpose of enabling the use of the website (connection establishment), system security, technical administration of the network infrastructure and optimization of the website. The IP address is only analyzed in the event of attacks on the network infrastructure of FORTÉ Germany. No other personal data is used unless you expressly consent to this. You can find out how pseudonymous user profiles can be created in the information on web analysis. The legal basis for the temporary storage of data or log files is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Webhosting

This website is hosted by an external service provider (hoster). This website is hosted in Germany. Personal data collected on this website is stored on the hoster’s servers. This may include IP addresses, contact requests, meta and communication data, website access and other data generated via a website.

We collect the data listed in order to ensure a smooth connection to the website and the technically error-free provision of our services. The processing of this data is absolutely necessary in order to make the website available to you. The legal basis for the processing of the data is our legitimate interest in the correct presentation and functionality of our website in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

We have concluded an order processing contract with the provider in accordance with the requirements of Art. 28 GDPR, in which we oblige the provider to protect our customers’ data and not to pass it on to third parties.

Cookies

Our website uses so-called “cookies”. Cookies are small text files that 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 end device until you delete them yourself or they are automatically deleted by your web browser.

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 language settings). Other cookies are used to evaluate user behavior or display advertising.

The processing of data through the use of strictly necessary cookies is based on a legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR in the technically error-free provision of our services. For details on the processing purposes and legitimate interests, please refer to the information on the specific data processing.

The processing of personal data through the use of other cookies is based on consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. Consent can be revoked at any time for the future. If such cookies are used for analysis and optimization purposes, we will inform you about this separately in this privacy policy and obtain your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

You can set your browser so that you

be informed about the setting of cookies,
Only allow cookies in individual cases,
exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general,
activate the automatic deletion of cookies when the browser is closed.

The cookie settings can be managed under the following links for the respective browsers:

You can also manage cookies from many companies and functions that are used for advertising individually. To do this, use the corresponding user tools, available at https://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices.

Most browsers also offer a so-called “do-not-track function”. If this function is activated, the respective browser informs advertising networks, websites and applications that you do not wish to be “tracked” for the purpose of behavior-based advertising and the like.

Information and instructions on how to edit this function can be found under the following links, depending on your browser provider:

You can also prevent scripts from being loaded by default. “NoScript” allows the execution of JavaScripts, Java and other plug-ins only on trusted domains of your choice. Information and instructions on how to edit this function can be obtained from the provider of your browser (e.g. for Mozilla Firefox at: https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/noscript/). Please note that the functionality of our website may be restricted if cookies are deactivated.

Use of Google Analytics

Our website uses Google Analytics, an internet analysis service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”). Google Analytics uses so-called “cookies”.

Google will use this information on behalf of the operator of this website for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website and compiling reports on website activity. Google will also use this information to provide the website operator with other services related to the use of the website and the internet. The IP address sent by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be combined with other Google data. Processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR on the basis of your consent.

We only use Google Analytics with activated IP anonymization. This means that your IP address is only processed by Google in abbreviated form. We have concluded an order processing contract with the service provider in which we oblige them to protect our customers’ data and not to pass it on to third parties.

As personal data is transferred to the USA, further protective mechanisms are required to ensure the level of data protection required by the GDPR. To ensure this, we have agreed standard data protection clauses with the provider in accordance with Art. 46 para. 2 lit. c GDPR. These oblige the recipient of the data in the USA to process the data in accordance with the level of protection in Europe. In cases where this cannot be ensured even by this contractual extension, we endeavor to obtain additional regulations and assurances from the recipient in the USA. The Google Analytics terms of use and information on data protection can be accessed via the following links:

https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/de/
https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/

The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. Data at user and event level that is linked to cookies, user identifiers (e.g. user ID) and advertising IDs (e.g. DoubleClick cookies, Android advertising ID, IDFA [Apple identifier for advertisers]) is deleted no later than 26 months after it is collected.

You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting the settings of your browser software accordingly. However, we would like to point out that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of this website to their full extent. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and analyzing your use of the website (including your IP address) and processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

Google reCAPTCHA

We use “Google reCAPTCHA” (hereinafter referred to as “reCAPTCHA”) on our website. The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”). The purpose of reCAPTCHA is to check whether the data input on our website (e.g. in a contact form) is made by a human or by an automated program. For this purpose, reCAPTCHA analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis begins automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the website. For the analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates various information, e.g.

IP address
Length of stay of the website visitor on the website
Mouse movements made by the user

The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Google.

The reCAPTCHA analyses run completely in the background. Website visitors are not informed that an analysis is taking place. Data processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in protecting our website from abusive automated spying and from unwanted, automated mailings (spam).

We do not store any personal data from the use of reCAPTCHA. In general, personal data of the data subject will be deleted or blocked as soon as the purpose of storage no longer applies. Further information on Google reCAPTCHA and Google’s privacy policy can be found at the following links: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/ and https://www.google.com/recaptcha/about/

Google Web Fonts

This site uses so-called web fonts provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”) for the uniform display of fonts. Google Web Fonts enables us to use external fonts, so-called Google Fonts. When you access our website, the required Google font is loaded into your browser cache by your web browser in order to display texts and fonts correctly. This is necessary so that your browser can also display a visually improved presentation of our texts. If your browser does not support this function, a standard font from your computer will be used for display.

We use Google Web Fonts for optimization purposes, in particular to improve the use of our website for you and to make its design more user-friendly. This is also our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. Google has submitted to the Privacy Shield Agreement concluded between the European Union and the USA and is certified. As a result, Google undertakes to comply with the standards and regulations of European data protection law. You can find more information in the following linked entry: https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active

Further information on data protection can be found in Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de&gl=de

Further information on Google Web Fonts can be found at https://fonts.google.com/ https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq?hl=de-DE&csw=1 and https://fonts.google.com/#AboutPlace:about

Social media links

Social networks (Facebook, Twitter and Xing) are only integrated on our website as links to the corresponding services. After clicking on the integrated text/image link, you will be redirected to the page of the respective provider. User information is only transferred to the respective provider after you have been forwarded. For information on the handling of your personal data when using these websites, please refer to the respective privacy policies of the providers you use.

Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads)

On our websites, we integrate the “Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads)” service of Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond WA 94043, USA. In the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), the service is offered by Microsoft Ireland Operations, Ltd, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 P521, Ireland.

Description of the data processing and the purpose

We use the service on our websites to measure how successful our advertisements placed via Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads) are. To do this, we track how website visitors interact with the advertisements and their subsequent use of our websites. This involves tracking the conversion of an advertisement into an action by the website visitor (conversion tracking) with the aim of controlling and optimizing our online marketing measures.

If an advertisement placed by us via “Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads)” is displayed to you on other websites or you click on it, these other websites store a tracking cookie with a pseudonym assigned to us in your end device on the basis of your consent given there. If you subsequently visit our websites within the storage period of this cookie, this cookie will be read.

In addition, when you visit our websites, further pseudonymous cookies are stored on your end device in order to track your page views and interactions with our websites. In this way, Microsoft can determine for us that you have been shown an advertisement placed by us, whether you have clicked on it and then visited our websites and, if applicable, how you have subsequently used our websites.

When Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads) is used, the following types of data in particular are collected and processed:

Data of the website visit
- IP address
- Timestamp
- Time zone
Data of the terminal device used to access the website
- Hardware features of the end device
- Operating system details
- Details of the web browser used
- Language settings of the end device
- Pseudonymous recognition feature of the end device
Data on the displayed advertisement
- Data on the website on which the ad was displayed
- Click of the website visitor on the ad
Data on the usage behavior of our websites
- Websites visited
- Duration and number of visits
- Mouse movements
- Click path
- Successful implementation of defined target action of the website visitor (conversion)

Microsoft uses this information to compile statistics for us, from which we can see how many users have reacted to our advertisements and in what way. Based on these statistics, we can optimize the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and manage our advertising strategy.

Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for the integration and use of the service is your consent, provided that you have given this via our consent management platform “HubSpot”. The use of cookies and similar technologies is based on Section 25 (1) TTDSG. The subsequent data processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR.

Your consent is voluntary and can be freely revoked at any time with effect for the future. To exercise your revocation, please use the fingerprint symbol at the bottom left of the website to call up “again and change your settings.

Data processing in third countries

When using the service, your data may also be processed in countries outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) in third countries without an adequate level of data protection, in particular in the USA. If your data is transferred to third countries, there is a risk that the authorities there may access your data for security and monitoring purposes without you being informed or being able to take legal action.

To ensure an adequate level of data protection when transferring your data to third countries, standard data protection clauses of the European Commission are concluded in accordance with Art. 46 para. 2 lit. c GDPR. They oblige the recipient of the data to process it in accordance with the European level of protection.

If the standard data protection clauses alone are not sufficient to guarantee the level of protection, additional technical, contractual or organizational measures are taken to safeguard the transfer of data. We also regularly review and assess whether these additional measures continue to ensure an adequate level of data protection or whether further supplementary measures may need to be taken.

Receiver

When using the service, the data collected via our websites is transmitted to the following recipients:

Microsoft Ireland Operations, Ltd, One Microsoft Place, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 P521, Ireland,
Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond WA 94043, USA.

In principle, we have no influence on further data processing by the third-party provider. Further information on how Microsoft handles personal data can be found at https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement.

Storage duration

By integrating the service on our websites, data is transmitted to the above-mentioned recipients and stored there for as long as is necessary to achieve the stated purposes.

HubSpot

We use HubSpot for marketing activities on our website. HubSpot is a software company from the USA with a branch office HubSpot Ireland Limited in 2nd Floor 30 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland. We use this integrated software solution for our own marketing, lead generation and customer service purposes. This includes email marketing, which regulates the sending of newsletters and automated mailings, social media publishing and reporting, contact management such as user segmentation and CRM, landing pages and contact forms. HubSpot uses cookies, small text files that are stored locally in the cache of your web browser on your end device and enable us to analyze your use of the website. HubSpot evaluates the information collected (e.g. IP address, geographical location, type of browser, duration of the visit and pages accessed) on our behalf so that we can generate reports on the visit and the pages visited.

Information collected by HubSpot and the content of our website is stored on the servers of HubSpot’s service providers. If you have given your consent to this in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR, the processing on this website is carried out for the purpose of website analysis. Since personal data is transferred to the USA, further protective mechanisms are required to ensure the level of data protection required by the GDPR. To ensure this, we have agreed standard data protection clauses with the provider in accordance with Art. 46 para. 2 lit. c GDPR. These oblige the recipient of the data in the USA to process the data in accordance with the level of protection in Europe. In cases in which this cannot be ensured even by this contractual extension, we endeavor to obtain additional regulations and assurances from the recipient in the USA.

The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. The data will be deleted no later than 13 months after it is collected. You can permanently object to the collection of data by HubSpot and the setting of cookies by preventing the storage of cookies through your browser settings. You can object to the processing of your personal data at any time with effect for the future by sending an email to info@ourforte.eu.

What happens when I subscribe to a newsletter?

If you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website with regular information about our offers and products, we require your e-mail address as mandatory information. We use the so-called double opt-in procedure to send the newsletter. This means that we will only send you our newsletter by e-mail if you have expressly confirmed to us that you agree to receive our newsletter. You will receive an e-mail with a link that you can use to confirm that you, as the owner of the corresponding e-mail address, wish to receive future newsletters. By confirming, you give us your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR that we may use your personal data for the purpose of sending you the desired newsletter.

When you register for the newsletter, in addition to the e-mail address required for sending the newsletter, we store the IP address you used to register for the newsletter as well as the date and time of your registration and confirmation for the newsletter. This enables us to trace any possible misuse at a later date.

You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time via the link included in every newsletter or by sending an email to the controller named above. Once you have unsubscribed, your e-mail address will be deleted from our newsletter distribution list immediately, unless you have expressly consented to the continued use of the data collected or the continued processing is otherwise permitted by law.

Our email newsletters are sent via the technical service provider HubSpot Ireland Limited, Ground Floor, Two Dockland Central, Guild St, North Dock, Dublin, D01 R8H7 Dublin (“HubSpot”), to whom we pass on the data you provided when registering for the newsletter. This transfer takes place in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR and serves our legitimate interest in using an effective, secure and user-friendly newsletter system. The data you enter for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter (e.g. email address) will be stored on HubSpot’s servers in Germany.

HubSpot uses this information to send and statistically analyze the newsletter on our behalf. For evaluation purposes, the emails sent contain so-called web beacons or tracking pixels, which are one-pixel image files stored on our website. This makes it possible to determine whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links have been clicked on. Conversion tracking can also be used to analyze whether a predefined action (e.g. purchase of a product on our website) has taken place after clicking on the link in the newsletter.

Technical information is also collected (e.g. time of access, IP address, browser type and operating system). The data is collected exclusively in pseudonymized form and is not linked to your other personal data; direct personal reference is excluded. This data is used exclusively for the statistical analysis of newsletter campaigns. The results of these analyses can be used to better adapt future newsletters to the interests of the recipients. If you wish to object to the data analysis for statistical evaluation purposes, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter.

Chat function (HubSpot)

This website uses a live chat to ensure the best possible user experience. To answer live requests, your chat name (first and last name) and the chat content you share are collected and stored for the duration of the chat. We only collect your e-mail address and telephone number if you provide them to us voluntarily so that we can contact you at a later date.

Cookies are used to operate the chat function. Cookies are small text files that are stored locally in the cache of the website visitor’s Internet browser. Cookies make it possible to recognize the visitor’s Internet browser in order to distinguish between individual users of the chat function on our website. The information generated by the cookies about your use of this website (including your IP address) is transmitted to a server of the chat service provider and stored there.

The legal basis for the processing of the data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR if the user has given consent. If the information collected in this way has a personal reference, the processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in effective customer service and the statistical analysis of user behavior for optimization purposes. If the chat history is aimed at the conclusion of a contract, the additional legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR for processing for the performance of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures.

The service provider is used on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. The chat and your specified chat name will be deleted immediately as soon as we or you have ended the chat conversation.

In order to avoid the storage of cookies, you can set your Internet browser so that no more cookies can be stored on your computer in the future or cookies that have already been stored are deleted. However, deactivating all cookies may mean that the chat function on our website can no longer be used.

consent has been given, the user has the option of withdrawing their consent to the processing of personal data at any time. In such a case, the conversation cannot be continued. Service provider: Hubspot European branch: HubSpot Ireland Limited at 2nd Floor 30 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Who can I contact if I have further questions?

Responsible body within the meaning of data protection law

FORTÉ Germany GmbH
Managing Director:

Tobias Enders, Chris Mounts, Roger Patrick
Am Kronberger Hang 8
65824 Schwalbach
Phone: 06196-96793-0
E-mail: info@ourforte.eu

You have a right of access to the personal data stored about you and also a right to rectification of incorrect data, blocking and erasure. If you would like information about your personal data or its correction or deletion, or if you have further questions about the use of your personal data provided to us, please contact us:

Contact details of the data protection officer

PROLIANCE GmbH
Datenschutzexperte.de
Leopoldstraße 21
80802 Munich

datenschutzbeauftragter@datenschutzexperte.de

Your rights

Below you will find information on the data subject rights granted to you by the applicable data protection law vis-à-vis the controller with regard to the processing of your personal data:

You have the right to request information about your personal data processed by us in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR. In particular, you can request information about the processing purposes, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period, the existence of a right to rectification, erasure, restriction of processing or objection, the existence of a right to lodge a complaint, the origin of your data if it was not collected by us, and the existence of automated decision-making including profiling and, if applicable, meaningful information about its details.

The right to demand the immediate correction of incorrect or incomplete personal data stored by us in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR.
The right to request the deletion of your personal data stored by us in accordance with Art. 17 GDPR, unless the processing is necessary to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information, to fulfill a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest or to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.
The right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR if the accuracy of the data is disputed by you, the processing is unlawful, but you refuse to delete it and we no longer need the data, but you need it to assert, exercise or defend legal claims or you have lodged an objection to the processing in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR
The right, pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR, to receive your personal data that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or to request transmission to another controller.
The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in accordance with Art. 77 GDPR. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority of the federal state of our registered office stated above or, if applicable, that of your usual place of residence or workplace.
Right to withdraw consent granted pursuant to Art. 7 (3) GDPR: You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of data at any time with effect for the future. In the event of revocation, we will delete the data concerned immediately, unless further processing can be based on a legal basis for processing without consent. The withdrawal of consent shall not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

Right of objection

If your personal data is processed by us on the basis of legitimate interests in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR,
insofar as this is done for reasons arising from your particular situation,

Insofar as the objection is directed against the processing of personal data for the purpose of direct marketing, you have a general right of objection without the requirement to specify a particular situation.

If you wish to exercise your right of revocation or objection, simply send an e-mail to datenschutzbeauftragter@datenschutzexperte.de

Inclusion, validity and timeliness of the privacy policy

By using our website, you consent to the use of your data as described above. The privacy policy is currently valid and dated August 20, 2025.

Due to the further development of our website or the implementation of new technologies, it may become necessary to amend this privacy policy. FORTÉ Germany reserves the right to change the privacy policy at any time with effect for the future. We recommend that you re-read the current data protection declaration from time to time.