Which of the following constitutes one of the defenses to interference with business relations?

The option referring to privilege is recognized as a valid defense against interference with business relations. In the context of tortious interference, a privilege can arise in situations where the defendant has a legitimate, protected interest in the business relationship or where the interference is conducted in good faith and for a legitimate purpose. For instance, if a person encourages a business partner to terminate a contract with one party so they can enter a more beneficial agreement, and if there is reasonable justification for doing so, that individual may be able to assert a privilege as a defense.

This defense operates under the principle that not all interference is wrongful; if it serves a legitimate interest and is conducted without malice, it may be considered justifiable. This typical privilege applies to situations involving competitive behavior as long as it is not conducted in a way that constitutes bad faith or malicious intent.

Understanding the context of this defense is critical, as it highlights the balance between promoting fair business competition and allowing some degree of interference for legitimate business motivations.