Photo-induced birefringence properties of azobenzene containing maleimide copolymers P[DR1PMI-co-St] 1 and P[DR1MSt-co-PMI] 2 are investigated. These polymers show reversible photo-induced birefringence and the rate parameters for the induction and relaxation processes are obtained. Photoimage patterns of the polymers with narrowest line width of 2 mu m are obtained. The micro patterns are relatively stable for over a month at room temperature.