The invention includes an UV absorbing complex polyol polyester polymer that is the product of a reaction scheme that includes: (i) the esterification of a polyol and a dianhydride, wherein the esterification is carried out under conditions that facilitate substantially only anhydride opening, to form a polyester polymer comprising at least two pendant carboxylic groups, and at least two hydroxyl groups: and (ii) the reaction of at least one pendant carboxylic group and at least one terminal hydroxyl group of the polyester polymer with an epoxide having a functional group, wherein the epoxide comprises an UV absorbing moiety.Also included are linear UV absorbing complex polyol polyester polymers represented by Formula (XI):wherein R3 is independently selected from an UV absorbing moiety； R4 and R5 are each independently selected from a hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer of 1 to 1000.A crosslinked UV absorbing complex polyol polyester polymer that is reaction product of a random copolyesterification esterification reaction and/or the esterification product of: a monofunctional carboxylic acid and/or ester that comprises an UV absorbing moiety, at least one of a diol, a polyol, a diacid and/or an ester is also included within the scope of the invention. The resulting polymer has an UV absorbing functionality of greater than 2.0.
