(law) A test to determine whether an instrument qualifies as an "investment contract" for the purposes of the Securities Act of 1933: it must be "a contract, transaction or scheme whereby a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits solely from the efforts of the promoter or a third party".

Brianne Nicole Howey (born May 24, 1989) is an American actress.

Hugh C. Howey (born 1975, Charlotte, North Carolina) is an American writer, known best for the science fiction series Silo, part of which he published independently through Amazon.com's Kindle Direct Publishing system; he later signed distribution deals, with large publishing houses in different countries, but maintains the publishing rights and all e-book publishing.

Securities and Exchange Commission v. W. J. Howey Co., 328 U.S. 293, was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the offer of a land sales and service contract was an "investment contract" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and that the use of the mails and interstate commerce in the offer and sale of these securities was a violation of §5 of the Act, .. It was an important case in determining the general applicability of the federal securities laws.