Opinion ID: 424830
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: 16 Movie Systems argues that this court lacks jurisdiction to consider the appeal directed against the June 22 order of the district court, which by its terms was a clarification of the preliminary injunction, and not an order granting, continuing, or modifying an injunction within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292(a)(1). 17 The preliminary injunction of June 11, 1982 prohibited sales of equipment with the capability of intercepting programs transmitted by Movie Systems if MAD and the other defendants (1) advertised or communicated that the product was capable of or could be used in interception or reception of Movie Systems' programming, or (2) knew or had reason to believe that a purchaser was acquiring the product with the intent of intercepting or receiving Movie Systems' programming. The June 22 order referred to the finding in the June 11 order that while the microwave antennas had other limited uses besides reception of Movie Systems' programming, MAD and the other defendants were not selling such equipment for such uses. Based on this finding and the affidavits on file, the district court concluded that the defendants should know or at least have reason to believe that a person purchasing the equipment has the intent of receiving Movie Systems' programming. The court then ordered the prohibition of all sales by defendants of equipment having this capability. 18 We think it evident that the June 22 order expands and modifies the June 11 preliminary injunction by eliminating its two stated conditions and by making the prohibition on sales absolute. This would bring the June 22, 1982 order within the plain language of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292(a)(1) as it modifies the preliminary injunction. 3 It is also abundantly clear that the June 22, 1982 order continues enforcement of the injunction of June 11, 1982 and in this additional respect falls within the plain language of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1292(a)(1). See Sperry Corp. v. City of Minneapolis, 680 F.2d 1234, 1237 (8th Cir.1982). 19 Movie Systems argues that there was not a motion to modify the preliminary injunction before the court, and thus the June 22 order could not properly be characterized as denial of a motion to modify an injunction to bring it within the language of the statute. The district court, however, found that the motion for contempt could best be dealt with by issuing the order it termed a clarification. We do not believe that the action of the district court was unresponsive to the relief sought by Movie Systems, and we reject its arguments that the June 22 order was not a modification of the earlier preliminary injunction.