What does the legal principle of "unclean hands" imply?

The legal principle of "unclean hands" implies that a party seeking equitable relief must demonstrate that they have acted fairly and honestly in relation to the subject of the complaint. This doctrine is rooted in the idea that those who seek the aid of the courts must come with clean hands, meaning they cannot benefit from their own wrongdoing or unethical behavior. In equitable proceedings, a court will deny relief to a party if it finds that they have engaged in conduct that is fraudulent, immoral, or otherwise contrary to good faith in the matter at hand.

This principle serves to uphold the integrity of the judicial process and ensures that equitable remedies are granted only to those who have acted justly. In contrast, the other options pertain to different legal concepts and requirements that do not relate to the ethical conduct of parties involved in legal disputes.