No, he didn't.
Eric Clapton’s management has announced it does not intend to collect the money owed
Your own article. First line.
You should read it.
And while this will be labeled as an overreaction please look up the case of Lady A. She did not defend her name. And now she may lose it to more famous group.
IP is a serious thing and if you do not defend it you will lose control.
Right now Gibson is trying to sue Dean Guitars for copying a couple of Gibson’s models. Unfortunately Dean has been making them for 40 years+ and the headstocks are different. Gibson only filed a couple of years ago. The US lawsuit continues but Gibson just got its @ss handed to it in German Courts.
Gibson is also trying to say they own the guitar shape you see on virtually every acoustic guitar. Good luck with that one.
Gibson’s quality went in to the tank years ago and instead of fixing the issues they decided to sue everyone who stepped up to fill the gap. When $500 similar guitars are better than $4000 Gibson custom shop guitars you of course sue the competition, right?