”I am generally in favor of this framing, but also concerned that it spells the end of any idea of a “commons” arising from government work”
I don’t read this as charging a fee up front. I see it as the govt (rightly) claiming some IP and then licensing it (free) to receive a cut of any future revenue that derived from its use. (imagine a couple of percents from the underlying tech that became the internet?)
Adding this to the holiday reading list. This sounds like a very interesting and pragmatic approach that should attract (if people are looking at it in good faith) support from the right (capitalists getting a ‘head start’ on R &D) and the left (new revenue source to fund public services).
Totally logical and clear-headed, so clearly will never happen 
