What did the court rule regarding the defendant's defense of reasonable mistake in Harcourts v Commerce Commission?

In the case of Harcourts v Commerce Commission, the court's ruling on the defendant's defense of reasonable mistake was that it was deemed unreasonable. The reasoning behind this decision lies in the application of the principles underlying consumer protection laws, where a standard of care and due diligence is expected from businesses engaging with consumers.

The court found that simply claiming a reasonable mistake does not absolve a defendant from liability, especially in situations where misleading or deceptive conduct is present under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act. The focus is on consumer protection and establishing accountability for businesses to ensure that they do not mislead consumers, regardless of their intentions.

Thus, the court emphasized that the defendant must demonstrate actions taken to prevent misleading conduct proactively. Failing to do so negates the argument of a reasonable mistake being a valid defense, resulting in it being classified as unreasonable in this context.