The protection of personal data is highly important to the Arbeitskreis Patentgerichtswesen in Deutschland e.V. (Work Group on Patent Judicature in Germany), a registered association represented by Dr. Ulrich Blumenröder, Leopoldstr. 4, 80802 Munich, Germany (“WG Patent Judicature”). This Privacy Statement serves to inform visitors to the websites of WG Patent Judicature (“User(s)”) about the processing of personal data (hereinafter also “Data”) that takes place on the websites of WG Patent Judicature subject to the applicable data protection laws, in particular Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation – “GDPR”).
WG Patent Judicature is the controller of the lawful processing of Users’ personal data.
2.1 Usage data
When the websites of WG Patent Judicature are accessed, the servers of WG Patent Judicature automatically store certain data of the accessing system. This includes the type of browser used, the browser version, the operating system used, the website from which the websites of WG Patent Judicature are accessed, the controlled subpages of the websites of WG Patent Judicature, the date and time of access, the internet protocol address (IP address), the internet service provider and data comparable with such data.
WG Patent Judicature uses this data to make the websites available, to detect and remove possibly occurring technical problems and to prevent and, if need be, prosecute any abuse of the services of WG Patent Judicature. WG Patent Judicature also uses this data in anonymised form, i.e. without being able to identify the user, for statistical purposes and in order to improve the websites. The legal basis for processing personal usage data is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.
2.2 Use of cookies
The websites of WG Patent Judicature use cookies. Cookies are small text files that are stored on the User’s data carrier and exchange certain settings and data with the system of WG Patent Judicature via the browser. A cookie normally contains the name of the domain from which the cookie data are sent and information on the age of the cookie and an alphanumerical identifier. Cookies enable WG Patent Judicature to design the websites attractively to the User and also facilitate use by, for example, storing certain input such that it need not be entered repeatedly. The information stored in the cookies is not used to identify the User and is not combined with other personal data stored about the User. The legal basis for processing personal data is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.
Users may deactivate or restrict the transfer of cookies by changing the settings on the internet browser. Cookies already stored may be erased at any time. This may also be done by automatic means. Should cookies for the websites of WG Patent Judicature be deactivated, it may be the case that not all functions of the websites can be fully used.
2.3 Data transferred in the course of making general contact
WG Patent Judicature’s websites provide Users with the option to make general contact with WG Patent Judicature. The personal data transferred to WG Patent Judicature in this connection are exclusively used in order to handle the respective enquiries. The legal basis for processing the data outlined above, depending on the content of the respective contact-making, is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.
2.4 Data transferred in the course of membership or sponsorship requests
Users of WG Patent Judicature’s websites have the opportunity to submit a membership application for admission to WG Patent Judicature or to contact WG Patent Judicature to conclude a sponsorship contract. In both cases, it is necessary to enter certain information (first and last name, e-mail address, company if applicable) and to send a message that may contain further details (e.g. address and telephone number). WG Patent Judicature uses these data exclusively for the establishment and administration of the association membership and/or the sponsorship contract, in particular for purposes of communication and invoicing. The legal basis for processing the data described above is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR.
WG Patent Judicature receives assistance from outside service providers for certain technical data analysis, processing or storage processes (e.g. to obtain aggregated, non-personal statistics from data bases or for the storage of backup copies). These service providers are carefully selected and meet high data protection and data security standards. They are obligated to maintain strict confidentiality and process personal data only when commissioned to do so by WG Patent Judicature and according to WG Patent Judicature’s instructions. The legal basis for the involvement of such service providers is Art. 28 GDPR.
Except in the cases set out in this Privacy Statement, WG Patent Judicature only transfers data to third parties without the User’s explicit consent if so obliged by law or by administrative or judicial directive.
Usage data will be stored for a period of 30 days. The data outlined above will otherwise be erased once it is no longer required for the described purposes, provided statutory provisions do not stipulate a longer retention period.
Users requesting detailed information on the processing of personal data concerning them may contact WG Patent Judicature at any time. They may also ask to receive in structured, commonly used and machine-readable format the data which they have provided to WG Patent Judicature or for such data to be transferred to a third party. Should the Users establish that the data stored about them is incorrect or incomplete, they may at any time require the immediate rectification or completion of such data. Subject to the preconditions set out in Art. 17 and 18 GDPR, the User may also require the erasure or restriction of processing of personal data. Users also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority for WG Patent Judicature.
The User may contact WG Patent Judicature at any time regarding questions concerning WG Patent Judicature’s processing of personal data and the exercise of rights to which the User is entitled against such processing. For this purpose, a notice by e-mail to sekretariat@patentdecisions.de or by post to Arbeitskreis Patentgerichtswesen in Deutschland e.V., Leopoldstr. 4, 80802 Munich, Germany is sufficient.