IPI International Privacy Policy

Preamble

We, Industrial Project Innovation and our subsidiaries (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the company,” “we,” or “us“), take the protection of your personal data seriously and would like to inform you about data protection in our company.

Within the scope of our data protection responsibilities, the entry into force of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679; hereinafter: “GDPR”) to ensure the protection of personal data of the data subject (hereinafter, we also refer to you as the data subject as “customer,” “user,” “you,” or “data subject”).

Insofar as we decide, either alone or jointly with others, on the purposes and means of data processing, this primarily includes the obligation to inform you transparently about the nature, scope, purpose, duration, and legal basis of the processing (cf. Articles 13 and 14 GDPR). With this declaration (hereinafter: “Privacy Policy“), we inform you about how we process your personal data.

Our data protection information is structured in a modular fashion. It consists of a general section for all processing of personal data and processing situations that apply each time a website is accessed (A. General) and a specific section, the content of which refers only to the processing situation specified there with the name of the respective offer or product, in particular the visit to websites, which is described in more detail here (B. Visiting websites).

To find the sections relevant to you, please refer to the following overview of the structure of the privacy policy:

A. General

(1)  Definitions

This privacy policy is based on the following definitions:

– “Personal data” (Art. 4 No. 1 GDPR) is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (“data subject”). A person is identifiable if they can be identified directly or indirectly, in particular by association with an identifier such as a name, an identification number, an online identifier, location data, or by reference to information about their physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity. Identifiability may also be given by linking such information or other additional knowledge. The origin, form, or embodiment of the information is irrelevant (photos, video, or audio recordings may also contain personal data).

– “Processing” (Art. 4 No. 2 GDPR) is any operation involving personal data, whether or not with the aid of automated (i.e., technology-based) procedures. This includes, in particular, the collection (i.e., procurement), recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction of personal data, as well as the change of a purpose or objective originally underlying data processing.

– “Controller” (Art. 4 No. 7 GDPR) is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body that, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.

– “Third party” (Art. 4 No. 10 GDPR) is any natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body other than the data subject, the controller, the processor, and the persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorized to process personal data; this also includes other legal entities belonging to the group.

– “Processor” (Art. 4 No. 8 GDPR) is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the controller, in particular in accordance with the controller’s instructions (e.g., IT service providers). In terms of data protection law, a processor is not a third party.

– “Consent” (Art. 4 No. 11 GDPR) of the data subject means any freely given, informed, and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes in the form of a statement or other clear affirmative action by which the data subject signifies his or her agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

(2) Name and address of the controller

We are the body responsible for processing your personal data within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 7 GDPR:

IPI International GmbH

Adamstr. 7

D-80636 Munich

Email: information@ipi-international.com

For further information about our company, please refer to the legal notice on our website.

(3) Contact for data protection inquiries

The appointment of a data protection officer is not required by law and no data protection officer has been appointed. For any questions regarding data protection, please contact:

IPI International GmbH

Email: information@ipi-international.com

(4) General legal basis for data processing

By law, any processing of personal data is prohibited in principle and is only permitted if the data processing falls under one of the following justifications:

– Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (“Consent”): Where the data subject has given his or her consent to the processing of his or her personal data for one or more specific purposes, by means of a statement or by a clear affirmative action such as ;

– Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR: Where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract;

– Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR: If processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject (e.g., a statutory retention obligation);

– Art. 6 (1) (d) GDPR: If processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person;

– Art. 6 (1) (e) GDPR: If processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller; or

– Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (“legitimate interests”): If processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or rights of the data subject (in particular where the data subject is a child).

The storage of information in the end user’s terminal equipment or access to information already stored in the terminal equipment is only permitted if it is covered by one of the following justifications:

– Section 25 (1) TDDDG: If the end user has given their consent on the basis of clear and comprehensive information. Consent must be given in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR;

– § 25 (2) No. 1 TDDDG: If the sole purpose is to carry out the transmission of a message via a public telecommunications network, or

– § 25 (2) No. 2 TDDDG: If storage or access is absolutely necessary for the provider of a telemedia service to be able to provide a telemedia service expressly requested by the user.

We specify the applicable legal basis for each of the processing operations we carry out below. Processing may also be based on several legal bases.

(5) Data deletion and storage period

For the processing operations we carry out, we specify below how long the data is stored by us and when it is deleted or blocked. Unless an explicit storage period is specified below, your personal data will be deleted or blocked as soon as the purpose or legal basis for storage no longer applies. Where we transfer your data to recipients outside the European Economic Area, further details on the requirements for such third-country transfers can be found in section A.(8).

However, storage may continue beyond the specified period in the event of a (threatened) legal dispute with you or other legal proceedings, or if storage is required by legal regulations to which we are subject as the controller (e.g., § 257 German HGB, § 147 German AO). When the storage period prescribed by law expires, the personal data will be blocked or deleted, unless further storage by us is necessary and there is a legal basis for this.

(6) Data security

We use appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulation, partial or complete loss, destruction, or unauthorized access by third parties (e.g., TLS encryption for our website), taking into account the state of the art, implementation costs, and the nature, scope, context, and purpose of the processing, as well as the existing risks of a data breach (including its likelihood and impact) for the data subject. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological developments.

We will be happy to provide you with further information on request. Please contact us using the details provided in A.(3).

(7) Transfer of personal data to third parties

The transfer of your personal data to third parties only takes place in the cases described below.

To process inquiries received via our contact form, we transfer your data to our parent company, Industrial Project Innovation LLC (Greenville, SC, USA). The transfer is based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), which you provide by submitting the contact form. IPI LLC processes your data as an independent recipient for the purpose of handling your inquiry. For safeguards regarding data transfers to the USA, see A.(8).

(8) Requirements for the transfer of personal data to third countries

In the course of our business activities, personal data is also processed in the United States of America. In particular, we transfer data from contact inquiries to our parent company, Industrial Project Innovation LLC, based in Greenville, SC, USA, as an independent recipient. The transfer of personal data to the USA is based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a), Art. 49(1)(a) GDPR). In addition, the European Commission adopted an adequacy decision for the EU-US Data Privacy Framework on July 10, 2023 pursuant to Article 45(1) GDPR (Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1795), under which the United States ensures an adequate level of data protection for data transfers to organizations participating in the Framework.

In addition, your personal data may be transferred or disclosed to third-party companies in the course of our business relationships, for example to our parent company, Industrial Project Innovation LLC (USA). Any such transfer takes place exclusively to fulfil contractual or business obligations and to maintain your business relationship with us (legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) or (f) GDPR in conjunction with Art. 44 et seq. GDPR).

(9) No automated decision-making (including profiling)

We do not intend to use personal data collected from you for automated decision-making (including profiling).

(10) No obligation to provide personal data

We do not make the conclusion of contracts with us dependent on you first providing us with personal data. As a customer, you are generally not under any legal or contractual obligation to provide us with your personal data; however, we may only be able to provide certain offers to a limited extent or not at all if you do not provide the necessary data.

(11) Legal obligation to transfer certain data

We may be subject to a specific legal or regulatory obligation to provide lawfully processed personal data to third parties, in particular public authorities (Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR).

(12) Your rights

You can assert your rights as a data subject with regard to your processed personal data at any time by contacting us using the contact details provided in A.(2) above. As a data subject, you have the right:

– request information about your data processed by us in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR. In particular, you can request information about the purposes of processing, the category of 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, deletion, 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;

– to request the immediate correction of inaccurate data or the completion of your data stored by us in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR;

– to request the erasure of your data stored by us in accordance with Art. 17 GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for exercising the right of freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims;

– to request the restriction of the processing of your data in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR, unless the accuracy of the data is disputed by you or the processing is unlawful;

– pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR, to receive your data that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format or to request its transfer to another controller (“data portability”);

– to object to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 GDPR, provided that the processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR. This is particularly the case if the processing is not necessary for the performance of a contract with you. Unless it is an objection to direct marketing, we ask you to explain the reasons why we should not process your data as we have done when exercising such an objection. In the event of your justified objection, we will examine the situation and either stop or adapt the data processing or point out to you our compelling legitimate grounds on the basis of which we will continue the processing;

– in accordance with Art. 7 (3) GDPR, your consent once (even before the GDPR came into force, i.e., before May 25, 2018) – i.e. your voluntary, informed and unambiguous declaration of intent, made clear by a statement or other unequivocal confirmatory action, that you consent to the processing of the personal data concerned for one or more specific purposes – at any time, if you have given such consent. As a result, we will no longer be allowed to continue processing data based on this consent in the future and

– in accordance with Art. 77 GDPR, to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority about the processing of your personal data by our company.

(13) Changes to the data protection information

In the context of the further development of data protection law and technological or organizational changes, our data protection information is regularly reviewed for the need for adjustments or additions. You will be informed of any changes in particular on our German website at ipi-international.com. This data protection information is current as of September 2026.

B. Visiting websites

(1) Explanation of function

Information about our companies and the services we offer can be found in particular at ipi-international.com and the associated subpages (hereinafter collectively referred to as “websites”). When you visit our websites, your personal data may be processed.

(2) Processed personal data

When you use the websites for informational purposes, we collect, store, and process the following categories of personal data:

“Log data”: When you visit our websites, a so-called log data record (so-called server log files) is stored temporarily and anonymously on our web server. This consists of:

– the page from which the page was requested (so-called referrer URL)

– the name and URL of the requested page

– the date and time of the request

– the description of the type, language, and version of the web browser used

– the IP address of the requesting computer, which is shortened so that it can no longer be traced back to a specific person

– the amount of data transferred

– the operating system

– the notification of whether the call was successful (access status/HTTP status code)

– the GMT time zone difference

“Contact form data”: When contact forms are used, the data transmitted via these forms is processed (first and last name, address, company, e-mail address, and time of transmission).

(3) Purpose and legal basis of data processing

We process the personal data specified above in accordance with the provisions of the GDPR, other relevant data protection regulations, and only to the extent necessary. Insofar as the processing of personal data is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR, the purposes mentioned also represent our legitimate interests.

• The processing of log data serves statistical purposes and the improvement of the quality of our website, in particular the stability and security of the connection (the legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (a) or (f) GDPR).
• Contact form data is processed for the purpose of handling your inquiry. The legal basis is your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, which you provide by submitting the contact form. Before submission, you will be informed that your data may be transferred to our parent company, Industrial Project Innovation LLC (USA), for the purpose of processing your inquiry. The transfer to the USA is based on your consent (Art. 49(1)(a) GDPR). For details on safeguards for the third-country transfer, please refer to section A.(8). You may withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by contacting us using the contact details provided in A.(2). The withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out prior to the withdrawal.
• If the processing of the data requires the storage of information in your terminal equipment or access to information already stored in the terminal equipment, § 25 (1), (2) TDDDG is the legal basis for this.

(4) Duration of data processing

Your data will only be processed for as long as is necessary to achieve the above-mentioned processing purposes; the legal bases specified in the context of the processing purposes apply accordingly. With regard to the use and storage duration of cookies, please refer to point A.(5) and the cookie policy.

Third parties used by us will store your data on their system for as long as is necessary in connection with the provision of services for us in accordance with the respective order.

For more information on the storage period, please refer to A.(5) and the Cookie Policy.

(5) Transfer of personal data to third parties; legal basis

The following categories of recipients may have access to your personal data (see also A.(7)):

• Service providers for the operation of our website and the processing of data stored or transmitted by the systems (e.g., data center services, IT security). The legal basis for the transfer is Art. 6(1)(b) or (f) GDPR;
• Government agencies/authorities, insofar as this is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation. The legal basis for the transfer is then Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR;
• Persons employed to carry out our business operations (e.g., auditors, banks, insurance companies, legal advisors, supervisory authorities, parties involved in company acquisitions or the establishment of joint ventures). The legal basis for the transfer is then Art. 6 (1) (b) or (f) GDPR.

For information on ensuring an adequate level of data protection when transferring data to third countries, see A.(8).

Furthermore, we only transfer your personal data to third parties if you have given your express consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

(6) Use of cookies, plugins, and other services on our website

a) Cookies

We use cookies on our websites. Cookies are small text files that are assigned to the browser you are using on your hard drive by a characteristic string of characters and stored there, and through which certain information flows to the place that sets the cookie. Cookies cannot execute programs or transfer viruses to your computer and therefore cannot cause any damage. They serve to make the Internet offering as a whole more user-friendly and effective, i.e., more pleasant for you.

Cookies may contain data that enables the device used to be recognized. In some cases, however, cookies only contain information about certain settings that cannot be linked to a specific person. Cookies cannot directly identify a user.

A distinction is made between session cookies, which are deleted as soon as you close your browser, and permanent cookies, which are stored beyond the individual session. In terms of their function, cookies are divided into:

– Technical cookies: These are essential for navigating the website, using basic functions, and ensuring the security of the website; they do not collect information about you for marketing purposes or store which websites you have visited.

– Performance cookies: These collect information about how you use our website, which pages you visit, and, for example, whether errors occur during website use; they do not collect any information that could identify you—all information collected is anonymous and is only used to improve our website and find out what interests our users;

– Advertising cookies, targeting cookies: These are used to offer website users needs-based advertising on the website or offers from third parties and to measure the effectiveness of these offers; advertising and targeting cookies are stored for a maximum of 13 months;

–Sharing cookies: These are used to improve the interactivity of our website with other services (e.g., social networks); sharing cookies are stored for a maximum of 13 months.

The legal basis for cookies that are absolutely necessary to provide you with the expressly requested service is Section 25 (2) No. 2 TDDDG. Any use of cookies that is not technically necessary for this purpose constitutes data processing, which is only permitted with your express and active consent in accordance with Section 25 (1) TDDDG in conjunction with Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR. This applies in particular to the use of performance, advertising, targeting, or sharing cookies. Furthermore, we only pass on your personal data processed by cookies to third parties if you have given your express consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

b) Cookie policy

For more information about which cookies we use and how you can manage your cookie settings and disable certain types of tracking, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

c) Social media plugins

We do not use social media plugins on our websites. If our websites should contain icons of social media providers, we use them only for passive links to the pages of the respective providers.