Tesla Inc. must face a drone pilot’s copyright lawsuit over CEO Elon Musk’s circulation of an X post that used his aerial video without permission.

James Quilici, who’s representing himself in the suit, plausibly alleged Musk’s post came as an agent for Tesla and substantially amplified the reach of the direct infringement, the US District Court for the Central District of California said.

He also sufficiently pleaded that Tesla’s actions were willful as the post remained up despite Quilici repeatedly informing the company that the post infringed his copyright.

The Sept. 2 opinion by Judge Josephine L. Staton rejected Tesla’s …