Privacy Statement

1. 1.General information
2. 2.What kind of data is collected and how is it used?
3. 3.Which cookies are used?
4. 4.Is other personal data collected and processed?
5. 5.Will my data be transferred to third parties, e. g. authorities?
6. 6.How long will my data be stored?
7. 7.Do I have a right to information and rectification of my stored data? What other rights do I have with regard to my stored data?
8. 8.Can I withdraw my consent to the use of my data?
9. 9.Who is my contact person if I have questions about data protection?
10. 10.How long is this data privacy declaration valid?

1. General information

Thank you for your interest in the UX Strategy & Design website of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. We take data protection and privacy issues very seriously and comply with the applicable national and European data protection regulations. Therefore, we would like to inform you with this declaration about data protection measures and which data we may store and how we use this data.

2. What kind of data is collected and how is it used?

2.1 Data collection by this website

Whenever a user accesses the website, the user’s internet browser automatically transfers the following data to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s web server for technical reasons:

• IP address of the requesting computer
• date and time of access
• name and URL of the retrieved file
• access status (file transferred, file not found etc.)

This data is collected, processed and used for the purpose of enabling the use of the website (connection setup), system security and technical administration of the network infrastructure. A comparison with other databases or a transfer to third parties, also in excerpts, does not take place. The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 para. 1 b GDPR.

2.2 Use of Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, if you activate the IP anonymization on this website, your IP address will be shortened previously by Google within Member States of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases the full IP address is transferred to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide the website operator with further services related to website and internet use. The IP address transmitted by your browser within the scope of Google Analytics will not be aggregated with other Google data. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and from processing this data by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de. You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting data by clicking on the following link: Prevent tracking. An opt-out cookie is set that prevents future collection of your data when you visit this website.

For more information on terms of use and privacy, please visit http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html or https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/. Please note that on the website Google Analytics has been extended by the code “anonymizeIp” in order to guarantee an anonymous registration of IP addresses (so-called IP masking).

The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 para. 1 f GDPR, whereby Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s authorization arises from the fact that, on the one hand, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has an interest in evaluating the website data for purposes of website optimization and, on the other hand, a concerned person can reasonably foresee at the time when the personal data is collected and in view of the circumstances under which it is carried out (in particular the above-mentioned measures) that it will possibly be processed for this purpose.

3. Which cookies are used?

We use cookies on our website. If you do not want to take advantage of our cookies, you can find out in the help function of your browser how to set your browser to prevent it from accepting new cookies or deleting existing cookies. There you will also learn how to block your browser for all new cookies or which settings you have to make in order to receive a notification of new cookies.

The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 para. 1 f GDPR, whereby Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s authorization arises from the fact that, on the one hand, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has an interest in evaluating the website data for purposes of website optimization and, on the other hand, a concerned person can reasonably foresee at the time when the personal data is collected and in view of the circumstances under which it is carried out (in particular the above-mentioned measures) that it will possibly be processed for this purpose.

The cookies that we currently use on this website are listed in the cookie list that is available here:

The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 para. 1 f GDPR, whereby Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s authorization arises from the fact that, on the one hand, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has an interest in evaluating the website data for purposes of website optimization and, on the other hand, a concerned person can reasonably foresee at the time when the personal data is collected and in view of the circumstances under which it is carried out (in particular the above-mentioned measures) that it will possibly be processed for this purpose.

4. Is other personal data collected and processed?

We collect and process your personal data only if you request certain services and we need your data for this purpose or if you have voluntarily given us your express consent. The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 Para. 1 b GDPR and Art. 6 Para. 1 a GDPR.

You can do this, for example, by completing a registration form or sending us an email, ordering products or services, submitting inquiries to us, requesting materials or registering. Unless otherwise required by law, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which you have given your consent.

For special services such as newsletters, sweepstakes, etc. the respective special data protection provisions apply.

5. Will my data be transferred to third parties, e. g. authorities?

At Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, those bodies within Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany receive your data that are required to fulfill our contractual and legal obligations. Some data must be disclosed under strict contractual and legal requirements:

• Due to legal obligation:
  In certain cases, we are required by law to transfer data to a requesting public authority.Upon submission of a court order, we are obliged pursuant to § 101 of the German Copyright Act to provide owners of copyright and ancillary copyrights with information about customers who are alleged to have offered copyright-protected works on internet file-sharing sites. In these cases, our information contains the user ID of an IP address allocated at the time requested and, if known, the name and address of the customer.
  In other respects, personal data will only be transferred to state institutions and public authorities within the framework of mandatory national legal provisions or if disclosure is necessary in the event of attacks on the network infrastructure for legal or criminal prosecution. The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 Para. 1 c GDPR or § 24 Para. 2 No. 1 German Federal Data Protection Act.
• To external service providers for data processing:
  When service providers get access to our customers’ personal data, this usually takes place in the course of so-called order processing of personal data. This is expressly provided for by law. In this case, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany remains responsible for the protection of your data – in addition, the processor may also be responsible. The service provider works strictly in accordance with our instructions, which we ensure by means of strict contractual regulations, technical and organizational measures and supplementary controls. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany works with service suppliers as processors. These are Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Group companies and service providers for IT services (e. g. for technical-administrative tasks and for usage analysis), telecommunications, consulting and advisory services as well as sales and marketing.The data protection regulations for instruction-bound order processing of personal data are complied with.
• To Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Group companies:
  Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany may transfer your personal data to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Group companies in order to carry out a business relationship with you or for the purposes of legitimate interests.If data are transferred abroad, they are based within the EU or the EEA or in a country which, according to the decision of the EU Commission, has an appropriate level of data protection. In the case of data transfers to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Group companies domiciled in other countries, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany ensures by way of guarantees that the data-importing Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Group company has been obligated to an appropriate level of data protection.

Beyond this, we do not transfer data to third parties unless you have given your express consent, the transfer is obviously necessary for the provision of an offer or service requested by you or this is provided for by law. We also do not intend to transfer your data beyond this to a third country or international organization.

6. How long will my data be stored?

We store data for as long as it is legally necessary or necessary for the provision of the service requested by you, or as long as it has been agreed upon in a declaration of consent.

7. Do I have a right to information and rectification of my stored data? What other rights do I have with regard to my stored data?

You may at any time and free of charge request information about the scope, origin and recipients of the stored data as well as the purpose of the storage; in addition, you have the right to rectification, erasure or restriction of the processing of your data in accordance with data protection regulations, a right to object to the processing as well as a right to data portability. Please note that there is a right of appeal to a supervisory authority.

8. Can I withdraw my consent to the use of my data?

You have the right to withdraw your consent to the use of your data at any time. Just send an email to privacy@merckgroup.com or send a letter to the following address:

9. Who is my contact person if I have questions about data protection?

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the Group Data Protection Officer of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany at any time:

10. How long is this data privacy declaration valid?

This data privacy declaration is up-to-date and dates from October 26, 2020. We reserve the right to amend the data privacy declaration at any time with effect for the future, in particular to adapt it to a further development of the website or the implementation of new technologies.