The present study aims to examine the cooperation related to the development of international copyright law from the perspective of the Magyar Színpadi Szerzők Egyesülete (MSSE, Hungarian Playwrights’ Association). The association, founded in 1904, played an outstanding role in dealing with the shortcomings of Hungarian copyright law and the protection of the moral and financial interests of Hungarian playwrights/stage authors. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present the Association’s contribution to various milestones of the international copyright field, such as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the founding of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). The annual conferences of the world organization, especially the 1930 Budapest International Congress of Authors, an important event of Hungarian cultural diplomacy, shall also be presented in the study. Further aims of the study include shedding light on how national and international copyright cooperation developed in the first half of the 20th century.

Purpose – The study aims to map the integration of sustainable development goals (SDGs) into domestic legislation and higher education institution (HEI) policy frameworks, with a particular focus on India and Hungary. It seeks to assess the extent of SDG implementation by HEIs in both countries and provide a comparative perspective on their progress. Design/methodology/approach – A comparative analysis is conducted using both primary and secondary data sources. The study examines domestic policy frameworks and legislative measures relevant to SDGs, alongside the performance of HEIs in SDG implementation in India and Hungary. Findings – The study finds that India has had a harmonised and dedicated SDG framework for HEIs since 2020, whereas Hungary, despite having multiple policies and legislative initiatives aimed at SDGs, lacks such a unified framework for higher education. In both countries, substantial gaps remain in the performance of HEIs in achieving the SDGs. Originality/value – To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first cross-country comparative study that focuses specifically on the role of HEIs in the implementation of SDGs in India and Hungary. It contributes to closing the evidence and knowledge gap by highlighting how policy alignment can enhance institutional strategies and performance in sustainable development.