It's not like consumer electronics contain top secret tech like EUV machines. All supply chain for firmware / software of 99.99% devices is very boring, contains absolutely nothing secret and the only reason why it's "difficult" is because IP owners was not bothered.

Once single EU / US legislation introduced that force manufacturers into opening end-of-life products all IP right owners will either immediately make it possible or go out of business.

Since everyone will be forced to do the same no one will gain any advantages.

They're just publishing API documentation. No source code of the device got published.

At least people can create their own implementation of the API tho.

Sure but that should be an up front conversation. "OK, how do we make sure as few of these turn into bricks?"

If IP rights make doing the right thing too onerous, we can always reduce IP rights powers in this specific situation.

Or across the board, since they are absurdly powerful right now. Nintendo could not legally keep you from hacking a console before the DMCA.

If they know they have to do it up front the ip rights issue disappears.