In reply to Paul Sieminski.

"The court still did examine the case on the merits, and had to decide whether the damages we sought were allowed under the law."

yes, but they did not have to consider if in fact that the DMCA was invalid by hearing both sides, rather it accepted the Automattic claims because of a lack of rebuttal, and grants was was requested in the plaintiff's brief as it was within the allowance of the law.

In simple terms, you cannot take this case into a courtroom on the next case to show anything other than what a default judgement may look like. Otherwise, there is nothing there.

"previously *no* case law about what damages were available if a plaintiff were to win" - and all you have done establish what was already known, that the law does allow for these things, like any other case.

Yes, it's a win - but the other side wasn't playing. It would be a much bigger win if the defendant had argued the case and lost. Here, it's just taking the plaintiff's request for damages and accepting it by default.