Privacy policy

This English version is provided for convenience. The German version is legally binding.

1. Controller

The controller responsible for data processing on this website is:

Martin Schulz
Krokusstr. 43
82216 Maisach
Email: martin@risingdarkness.de

Further details can be found in the legal notice.

2. The key points in brief

This website sets no cookies for visitors, uses no analytics or tracking services, shows no advertising and loads no content from third-party servers – no fonts, videos or social media plugins either. Personal data is only processed in two cases: when pages are accessed (technically necessary server log files) and when you write to us using the contact form.

3. Hosting and server log files

The website is hosted by Host Europe GmbH, c/o WeWork, Friesenplatz 4, 50672 Cologne, Germany. A data processing agreement pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR has been concluded with the provider.

Each time a page is accessed, the server automatically stores the following data in so-called log files:

  • IP address of the accessing device
  • date and time of access
  • page or file accessed
  • amount of data transferred and status message
  • the previously visited page (referrer), if transmitted by the browser
  • browser type and operating system

This data is technically necessary to deliver the website and ensure its security, for example to fend off attacks. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR; our legitimate interest lies in the secure and stable operation of the website. The log files are deleted automatically once the retention period set by the host has expired. This data is not combined with other data.

4. Contact form

If you write to us using the contact form, we process your name, your email address and your message in order to answer your enquiry. The details are forwarded by email to our editorial mailbox and are not stored in a database of the website. The mailbox is operated by Google.

The legal basis is your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR), which you give when submitting the form, as well as our legitimate interest in answering enquiries (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). You can withdraw your consent at any time by email. We delete your message once your enquiry has been dealt with, unless statutory retention obligations apply.

To protect against spam and abuse, the website stores an irreversibly encrypted identifier of your IP address (a so-called hash) when you submit the form. Your IP address cannot be derived from it. The identifier is used solely to prevent too many messages in a short time and is deleted after 24 hours. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

5. Share links

Below the posts and in the full-size photo view you will find links for sharing on Facebook, WhatsApp, Bluesky, Pinterest and by email. These are simple links, not plugins: as long as you do not click them, no data whatsoever is transmitted to these services. Only when you click a link are you redirected to the respective provider, whose privacy policy then applies. On smartphones, the website uses your device's built-in share function instead.

6. Links to other websites

Posts may contain links to other websites, for example to festivals or bands. When you click them, you leave our website. The operators of those websites are responsible for any data processing there.

7. Photos and journalistic content

Rising Darkness Magazine publishes concert and festival photos as well as reports. This journalistic and editorial content is subject to the special rules for the press and media (Art. 85 GDPR in conjunction with § 23 of the German Interstate Media Treaty). If you recognise yourself in one of our photos and do not agree to its publication, please write to us – we review every request and remove photos if in doubt.

8. Your rights

You have the right at any time to:

  • access the data stored about you (Art. 15 GDPR)
  • rectification of inaccurate data (Art. 16 GDPR)
  • erasure (Art. 17 GDPR)
  • restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR)
  • data portability (Art. 20 GDPR)
  • object to processing based on legitimate interests (Art. 21 GDPR)
  • withdraw any consent given, with effect for the future (Art. 7 (3) GDPR)

An informal email to martin@risingdarkness.de is sufficient.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority. The authority responsible for us is the Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (Bayerisches Landesamt für Datenschutzaufsicht), Promenade 18, 91522 Ansbach, Germany, www.lda.bayern.de.

9. Data security

The connection to this website is encrypted with TLS throughout (recognisable by “https://” and the padlock symbol in your browser).

As of: 11 / 2026