Advocates argue that once a device hits end-of-life, manufacturers must release its software as open-source. Building on the Right to Repair push, they urge the European Commission to mandate code disclosure when support ends. A personal smart weight scale still pairs via Bluetooth, yet its abandoned app renders the gadget practically useless.

Few firms follow that path; Bose occasionally publishes firmware, while Spotify retired its $200 Car Thing in 2024, instantly adding to e-waste. The proposal stops at a modest GitHub repository containing hardware specs and connection protocols, letting hobbyists craft replacements. Thanks to vibe-coding, even non‑engineers can now experiment with such code.

Mandating code release would curb landfill growth and restore consumer control over purchased devices. Regulators may soon draft rules echoing the Right to Repair agenda, while open‑source communities could revive abandoned products. Observers will track EU legislative drafts and early GitHub forks that aim to breathe new life into obsolete hardware.