Disclosed are polymeric dyes of formula (1a); (1b); or (1c); wherein A and
B, independently from each other represent a polymer backbone; X.sub.1
and X.sub.2 independently from each other are a linkage group selected
from --C.sub.1-C.sub.10alkylene-; --C.sub.2-C.sub.12alkenylene-;
--C.sub.5-C.sub.10cycloalkylene-; C.sub.5-C.sub.10arylene;
--C.sub.5-C.sub.10arylene-(C.sub.1-C.sub.10alkylene)-; --C(O)--;
--(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2--O).sub.1-5--; --C(O)O--; --OCO--; --N(R.sub.1)--;
--CON(R.sub.1)--; --(R.sub.1)NC(O)--; -0-; --S--; --S(O)--;
--S(O).sub.2--; --S(O).sub.2--N(R.sub.1R.sub.2); or the direct bond;
R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently from each other are hydrogen; or
unsubstituted or substituted, straight-chain or branched, monocyclic or
polycyclic, interrupted or uninterrupted C.sub.1-C.sub.14alkyl;
C.sub.2-C.sub.14alkenyl; C.sub.6-C.sub.10aryl;
C.sub.6-C.sub.10aryl-C.sub.1-C.sub.10alkyl; or
C.sub.5-C.sub.10alkyl(C.sub.5-C.sub.10aryl); Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2
independently from each other are a residue of an organic dye; or
hydrogen; wherein at least one of Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 is a residue of an
organic dye; An.sub.1, An.sub.2 and An.sub.3, independently from each
other are an anion; a and b independently from each other are a number
from 1 to 3; m is a number from O to 1000; n is a number from O to 1000;
and p is a number from 1 to 1000; wherein the sum of m+n+p.gtoreq.3.
##STR00001##
