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gardens” in which platform providers tightly regulate the distribution of applications,
content, and user interactions. Within this model, market power derives not only from
products themselves but also from the capacity to establish technical rules that govern
the entire digital ecosystem.
The concept of the “walled garden,” therefore, should be understood not only from
a competition perspective but also as a structure of technological governance.
While such ecosystems may offer enhanced convenience and security, they often
impose significant trade-offs and costs. (Evinger, 2024) argues that closed digital
ecosystems have become a central issue in the global resurgence of antitrust scrutiny
because they enable firms to control both distribution channels and technical standards.
When technology functions as a form of regulation, rules embedded in software code can
shape market behavior as powerfully as traditional legal frameworks (Lessig, 2006).
From the perspective of network economics, the development of closed ecosystems
enables firms to increase user switching costs, generate lock-in effects, and reinforce
long-term competitive advantages (Carl Shapiro and Hal R. Varian, 1999). The
combination of DRM and ecosystem strategies has given rise to new business models in
which value resides not in individual products but in an integrated platform that unifies
hardware, software, and digital services.
However, the expansion of “walled gardens” has also sparked significant debate
regarding the balance between protecting intellectual property rights, fostering
innovation, and maintaining market competition.
While DRM helps mitigate copyright infringement and incentivizes investment in
high-quality digital content, excessive control may restrict interoperability, hinder
secondary creativity, and reduce the openness of the digital environment
(Hazlett, T.W., Weisman, D.L, 2011). The key issue, therefore, is not whether DRM
should be adopted, but how governance mechanisms can be designed to balance
corporate interests while simultaneously ensuring broader social benefits.
In Vietnam, the national digital transformation process is strongly accelerating the
development of digital content platforms, e-commerce, electronic publishing, and online
services. The rapid expansion of the digital content market has created an urgent need for
effective copyright protection in the online environment. The legal framework addressing
this issue has been progressively refined, most notably through the 2022 amendment to
the Law on Intellectual Property, which for the first time explicitly recognizes
technological protection measures as legitimate tools for the exploitation and protection
of digital works (Vietnam National Assembly, Law on intellectual property, 2025).
Implementing regulations have further clarified the responsibilities of organizations and
individuals, including prohibitions against circumventing technological measures designed
to safeguard copyright (Chính phủ Việt Nam, 2023).
In addition, the legal framework governing information technology and Internet
service management has laid an institutional foundation for the emergence of enterprise-
operated digital ecosystems, while also imposing the need to balance state regulation,
market competition, and users’ rights of access to information (Quốc Hội Việt Nam, Luật
sở hữu trí tuệ, 2025). This indicates that issues related to DRM and “walled gardens” in
Vietnam have moved beyond theoretical concerns and are becoming practical challenges
in digital platform governance.
Despite these developments, a clear research gap remains. Existing studies and
policy discussions in Vietnam predominantly approach DRM from the perspective of

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