Dickey, who graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, said he also may use the account to share his interactions with the company, which became icier as the account grew in popularity. He said he no longer intends to profit from notifying Publix customers about sub sales — which he said specifically agitated the grocery chain's lawyers.
In his interview, Dickey acknowledged he became greedy after realizing the value of the service he built, which included a related text-messaging feature and sales of Publix subs-branded merchandise.
Dickey said lawyers for Publix sent him ominous, cease-and-desist demands citing Section 43 of the Lanham Act, a 1946 federal law protecting trademarks. That provision of the law describes false designation of origin and false description or representation.