A preliminary injunction is a legal order issued by a court to temporarily stop a party from taking a specific action while a case is being decided. This type of injunction is often requested to prevent potential harm or to maintain the status quo until the court can make a final decision. To obtain a preliminary injunction, the requesting party must typically demonstrate that they are likely to succeed in their case, that they will suffer irreparable harm without the injunction, and that the balance of harms favors granting the injunction. This process is common in cases involving intellectual property, contract disputes, or environmental issues.