Sarbanes-Oxley Act

A 2002 U.S. federal law which establishes a broad array of standards for public companies, their management boards, and accounting firms. It was passed after a series of accounting scandals at Enron, WorldCom and Tyco International diminished public trust in U.S. corporations, and is designed to increase corporate accountability.

Also called SOX, Sarbox Sabanes-Oxley, Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002.