Everything in this country has a forsale sign on it.

Over time,  change does ultimately happen for one reason or another at all boundaries of government.

My question is, why are the tech giants overheating with regard to the patent rules as they stand now and why change now?

There's a reason for everything...action/reaction
Something is making them react differently this round.

 Intel never worried about it, they carried a portfolio of ownership for other companies to offset. I haven't looked at it lately, they looked more like an investment machine than a high tech company.
IMO...this is where they lost their edge as a high tech company....they invested in like companies of their discipline and followed one path...now trying to play catch up.

doni