John Casaretto appeared on NewsDesk earlier to discuss the latest copyright infringement news from Hollywood with our host, Kristin Feledy (full video below).

Earlier this week, Warner Brothers Studios sent Google a takedown notice for an app called “Hobbit 3D Wallpaper HD.” The application, as the name would suggest, contains unauthorized snapshots from the studio’s hit Tolkien movie.

Casaretto deems the move an “evolution” in the way content providers are handling piracy today’s tech savvy market. He explains that there are multiple reasons Warner Bros doesn’t want its content distributed illegally: the company has to make money, it has to maintain its image, and it has to protect the consumer – apps that promote pirated material often contain malware.

Casaretto stresses that Google, which operates YouTube as well as the Play marketplace for Android, must take a very calculated approach to addressing copyright infringement notifications. The search giant has to strike a balance between appeasing content providers and keeping its users happy, but that’s easier said than done.

On one hand, removing popular videos can trigger a backlash from the YouTube community. On the other, facilitating the illegal distribution of copyrighted material can get the company in a lot of trouble.

The RIAA sued both Napster and Limewire for allowing their users to illegally share music files, and big name studios could also take legal against Google. Casaretto says that this is highly unlikely because YouTube is simply too valuable of an asset to fiddle with, but that doesn’t mean Google shouldn’t adapt its policies.

Feledy wraps up interview by bringing up a recent statement from David Petarca, one of the directors of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Petarca said that he considers illegal viewers to be enthusiastic fans who greatly contribute to the “cultural buzz” around his series, a view that that Casaretto agrees with.