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.
