Privacy Policy
1. Who we are
Elbbridge GmbH ("we", "us"), Bauernvogtkoppel 9A, 22393 Hamburg, Germany, is the data controller for personal data processed via this website. Privacy contact: privacy@elbbridge.com. Full registered details are in the Imprint.
We process personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable German data protection law.
2. What we collect
We collect the minimum personal data needed to deliver the essays and occasional related updates, and to respond to direct inquiries.
2.1 PDF download form
When you request the typeset PDF of an essay, we collect: name, email address, where you sit (your free-text description of your role/affiliation), and the title of the essay you requested.
We use this information to deliver the PDF, send subsequent essays in the series and occasional related updates (including announcements about the forthcoming book), and understand the composition of our readership in aggregate. We do not share it with third parties for marketing.
2.2 Direct email
If you write to matthias@elbbridge.com we will retain the correspondence to respond to it. We do not add email correspondents to any list without explicit consent.
2.3 Analytics
We use Plausible Analytics, a privacy-focused service that does not use cookies and does not collect personal data. Plausible records page views, referral source, browser type, device type, and country (derived from IP, not stored). It is GDPR-compliant and does not require cookie consent. See plausible.io/data-policy.
2.4 Newsletter processor
The PDF download form posts to Buttondown, an email-newsletter provider we use to manage the subscriber list and deliver essays. Subscriber data (name, email, where-you-sit, essay requested) is stored at Buttondown for the duration of your subscription. Buttondown sends a double-opt-in confirmation email; your subscription is only activated after you click the confirmation link. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of any email we send. Buttondown's privacy policy: buttondown.com/legal/privacy. Buttondown is operated by Buttondown LLC (United States); we have a Data Processing Agreement with Buttondown under Art. 28 GDPR.
3. Legal basis for processing
- Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) — for sending essays and occasional related updates after you submit the PDF download form and confirm via double opt-in.
- Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) — for understanding readership composition in aggregate, responding to inbound mail, and operating the site.
- Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR) — where retention is required by law.
4. How long we keep data
- PDF download / essay subscriber data: until you unsubscribe, plus one year.
- Direct email correspondence: as long as a working relationship is plausible, or until you ask us to delete it.
5. Your rights
Under GDPR, you have the right to:
- Request a copy of your personal data (right of access).
- Request correction of inaccurate data.
- Request deletion of your data.
- Object to processing or withdraw consent at any time.
- Receive your data in a portable format.
- Lodge a complaint with the relevant German state data protection authority.
To exercise any of these rights, write to privacy@elbbridge.com. We will respond within 30 days.
6. Cookies
The site sets one functional cookie (eb_pdf_gate) to remember that you have already submitted the PDF download form, so you do not have to fill it in again on subsequent visits. The cookie expires after one year and is not used for tracking. Plausible analytics does not use cookies.
7. Changes
We will post material changes to this policy on this page and update the "Last updated" date.