During a long career he worked as an advocate, was a member of the chamber of deputies, was vice-president of Société d'économie politique, sat on the Court of Cassation and was a Senator.

He published many books and articles, and was elected a member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques of the Institut de France.

He made important contributions to the law on copyright, which he saw as a temporary monopoly granted to the author rather than a right of ownership.

His father had left the gauze business to become a book seller and publisher, and expected Charles to follow a literary career.

His French and Latin doctoral theses were on the style of the Hebrew prophets, and on personal identity.

[4] After the July Revolution Renouard was appointed to the council of state and was made secretary general in the Ministry of Justice.

They could meet on neutral scientific grounds to exchange views on subjects such as the functions of the state, land rents, commercial freedom, public finances, the Crédit Foncier, regulations and socialism.

[2] During the coup d'état of 2 December 1851 Renouard was charged by the high court with drawing up the report on indicting President Bonaparte.

[3] Under the French Third Republic, despite his age Renouard was named Attorney General at the Court of Cassation on 21 April 1871.

He was appointed president of the committee of judges who directed the campaign against the Fourtou-de Broglie ministry.

Rather than "literary and artistic property" he preferred "authors' and inventors' rights", which he saw as a grant of a temporary monopoly as a reward for the service the creator renders to society.

Thus he ensured that the Salvandy commission of 1839 on "literary property" led to the law on the "rights of authors in their production in letters and the arts".

In a judgement of 22 July 1887 the Court of Cassation enshrined his doctrine by explicitly abandoning the theory of property and defining copyright as a "temporary exclusive privilege of commercial exploitation".