diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/bom.py b/cyclonedx/model/bom.py
index 7b657604..f1768466 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/bom.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/bom.py
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@
     SchemaVersion1Dot5,
     SchemaVersion1Dot6,
 )
-from ..serialization import LicenseRepositoryHelper, UrnUuidHelper
+from ..serialization import UrnUuidHelper
 from . import _BOM_LINK_PREFIX, ExternalReference, Property
 from .bom_ref import BomRef
 from .component import Component
 from .contact import OrganizationalContact, OrganizationalEntity
 from .definition import Definitions
 from .dependency import Dependable, Dependency
-from .license import License, LicenseExpression, LicenseRepository
+from .license import License, LicenseExpression, LicenseRepository, _LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper
 from .lifecycle import Lifecycle, LifecycleRepository, _LifecycleRepositoryHelper
 from .service import Service
 from .tool import Tool, ToolRepository, _ToolRepositoryHelper
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ def supplier(self, supplier: Optional[OrganizationalEntity]) -> None:
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot4)
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot5)
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot6)
-    @serializable.type_mapping(LicenseRepositoryHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(_LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(9)
     def licenses(self) -> LicenseRepository:
         """
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/bom_ref.py b/cyclonedx/model/bom_ref.py
index faf47cf4..85bcf501 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/bom_ref.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/bom_ref.py
@@ -16,10 +16,20 @@
 # Copyright (c) OWASP Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
 
 
-from typing import Any, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional
 
+import serializable
 
-class BomRef:
+from ..exception.serialization import CycloneDxDeserializationException, SerializationOfUnexpectedValueException
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
+    from typing import Type, TypeVar
+
+    _T_BR = TypeVar('_T_BR', bound='BomRef')
+
+
+@serializable.serializable_class
+class BomRef(serializable.helpers.BaseHelper):
     """
     An identifier that can be used to reference objects elsewhere in the BOM.
 
@@ -33,6 +43,8 @@ def __init__(self, value: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
         self.value = value
 
     @property
+    @serializable.json_name('.')
+    @serializable.xml_name('.')
     def value(self) -> Optional[str]:
         return self._value
 
@@ -67,3 +79,23 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 
     def __bool__(self) -> bool:
         return self._value is not None
+
+    # region impl BaseHelper
+
+    @classmethod
+    def serialize(cls, o: Any) -> Optional[str]:
+        if isinstance(o, cls):
+            return o.value
+        raise SerializationOfUnexpectedValueException(
+            f'Attempt to serialize a non-BomRef: {o!r}')
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize(cls: 'Type[_T_BR]', o: Any) -> '_T_BR':
+        try:
+            return cls(value=str(o))
+        except ValueError as err:
+            raise CycloneDxDeserializationException(
+                f'BomRef string supplied does not parse: {o!r}'
+            ) from err
+
+    # endregion impl BaseHelper
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/component.py b/cyclonedx/model/component.py
index f553d5c0..8b36e498 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/component.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/component.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
     SchemaVersion1Dot5,
     SchemaVersion1Dot6,
 )
-from ..serialization import BomRefHelper, LicenseRepositoryHelper, PackageUrl as PackageUrlSH
+from ..serialization import PackageUrl as PackageUrlSH
 from . import (
     AttachedText,
     Copyright,
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 from .crypto import CryptoProperties
 from .dependency import Dependable
 from .issue import IssueType
-from .license import License, LicenseRepository
+from .license import License, LicenseRepository, _LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper
 from .release_note import ReleaseNotes
 
 
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def __init__(
     #    ... # TODO since CDX1.5
 
     @property
-    @serializable.type_mapping(LicenseRepositoryHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(_LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(4)
     def licenses(self) -> LicenseRepository:
         """
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ def mime_type(self, mime_type: Optional[str]) -> None:
 
     @property
     @serializable.json_name('bom-ref')
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot1)
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot2)
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot3)
@@ -1407,7 +1407,7 @@ def hashes(self, hashes: Iterable[HashType]) -> None:
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot4)
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot5)
     @serializable.view(SchemaVersion1Dot6)
-    @serializable.type_mapping(LicenseRepositoryHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(_LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(12)
     def licenses(self) -> LicenseRepository:
         """
@@ -1789,4 +1789,4 @@ def __hash__(self) -> int:
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f'<Component bom-ref={self.bom_ref!r}, group={self.group}, name={self.name}, ' \
-               f'version={self.version}, type={self.type}>'
+            f'version={self.version}, type={self.type}>'
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/contact.py b/cyclonedx/model/contact.py
index d9367e95..e3f65065 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/contact.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/contact.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 from .._internal.compare import ComparableTuple as _ComparableTuple
 from ..exception.model import NoPropertiesProvidedException
 from ..schema.schema import SchemaVersion1Dot6
-from ..serialization import BomRefHelper
 from . import XsUri
 from .bom_ref import BomRef
 
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ def __init__(
 
     @property
     @serializable.json_name('bom-ref')
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_attribute()
     @serializable.xml_name('bom-ref')
     def bom_ref(self) -> Optional[BomRef]:
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/crypto.py b/cyclonedx/model/crypto.py
index f692ab19..d9fd8106 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/crypto.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/crypto.py
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 from .._internal.compare import ComparableTuple as _ComparableTuple
 from ..exception.model import InvalidNistQuantumSecurityLevelException, InvalidRelatedCryptoMaterialSizeException
 from ..schema.schema import SchemaVersion1Dot6
-from ..serialization import BomRefHelper
 from .bom_ref import BomRef
 
 
@@ -606,7 +605,7 @@ def not_valid_after(self, not_valid_after: Optional[datetime]) -> None:
         self._not_valid_after = not_valid_after
 
     @property
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(50)
     def signature_algorithm_ref(self) -> Optional[BomRef]:
         """
@@ -622,7 +621,7 @@ def signature_algorithm_ref(self, signature_algorithm_ref: Optional[BomRef]) ->
         self._signature_algorithm_ref = signature_algorithm_ref
 
     @property
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(60)
     def subject_public_key_ref(self) -> Optional[BomRef]:
         """
@@ -775,7 +774,7 @@ def mechanism(self, mechanism: Optional[str]) -> None:
         self._mechanism = mechanism
 
     @property
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(20)
     def algorithm_ref(self) -> Optional[BomRef]:
         """
@@ -888,7 +887,7 @@ def state(self, state: Optional[RelatedCryptoMaterialState]) -> None:
         self._state = state
 
     @property
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(40)
     def algorithm_ref(self) -> Optional[BomRef]:
         """
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/definition.py b/cyclonedx/model/definition.py
index 417fd0c1..7c142247 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/definition.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/definition.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 from .._internal.bom_ref import bom_ref_from_str
 from .._internal.compare import ComparableTuple as _ComparableTuple
-from ..serialization import BomRefHelper
 from . import ExternalReference
 from .bom_ref import BomRef
 
@@ -71,11 +70,11 @@ def __hash__(self) -> int:
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f'<Standard bom-ref={self.bom_ref}, name={self.name}, version={self.version}, ' \
-               f'description={self.description}, owner={self.owner}>'
+            f'description={self.description}, owner={self.owner}>'
 
     @property
     @serializable.json_name('bom-ref')
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_attribute()
     @serializable.xml_name('bom-ref')
     def bom_ref(self) -> BomRef:
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/dependency.py b/cyclonedx/model/dependency.py
index 4cdfe17e..58930f3d 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/dependency.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/dependency.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 
 from .._internal.compare import ComparableTuple as _ComparableTuple
 from ..exception.serialization import SerializationOfUnexpectedValueException
-from ..serialization import BomRefHelper
 from .bom_ref import BomRef
 
 
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ def __init__(self, ref: BomRef, dependencies: Optional[Iterable['Dependency']] =
         self.dependencies = dependencies or []  # type:ignore[assignment]
 
     @property
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_attribute()
     def ref(self) -> BomRef:
         return self._ref
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/license.py b/cyclonedx/model/license.py
index fa4f2d33..7814a956 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/license.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/license.py
@@ -21,14 +21,17 @@
 """
 
 from enum import Enum
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional, Union
+from json import loads as json_loads
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Optional, Type, Union
 from warnings import warn
+from xml.etree.ElementTree import Element  # nosec B405
 
 import serializable
 from sortedcontainers import SortedSet
 
 from .._internal.compare import ComparableTuple as _ComparableTuple
 from ..exception.model import MutuallyExclusivePropertiesException
+from ..exception.serialization import CycloneDxDeserializationException
 from ..schema.schema import SchemaVersion1Dot6
 from . import AttachedText, XsUri
 
@@ -350,6 +353,7 @@ class LicenseRepository(SortedSet[License]):
         Denormalizers/deserializers will be thankful.
         The normalization/serialization process SHOULD take care of these facts and do what is needed.
         """
+
 else:
     class LicenseRepository(SortedSet):
         """Collection of :class:`License`.
@@ -364,3 +368,86 @@ class LicenseRepository(SortedSet):
         Denormalizers/deserializers will be thankful.
         The normalization/serialization process SHOULD take care of these facts and do what is needed.
         """
+
+
+class _LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper(serializable.helpers.BaseHelper):
+    """  THIS CLASS IS NON-PUBLIC API  """
+
+    @classmethod
+    def json_normalize(cls, o: LicenseRepository, *,
+                       view: Optional[Type[serializable.ViewType]],
+                       **__: Any) -> Any:
+        if len(o) == 0:
+            return None
+        expression = next((li for li in o if isinstance(li, LicenseExpression)), None)
+        if expression:
+            # mixed license expression and license? this is an invalid constellation according to schema!
+            # see https://github.com/CycloneDX/specification/pull/205
+            # but models need to allow it for backwards compatibility with JSON CDX < 1.5
+            return [json_loads(expression.as_json(view_=view))]  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+        return [
+            {'license': json_loads(
+                li.as_json(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+                    view_=view)
+            )}
+            for li in o
+            if isinstance(li, DisjunctiveLicense)
+        ]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def json_denormalize(cls, o: List[Dict[str, Any]],
+                         **__: Any) -> LicenseRepository:
+        repo = LicenseRepository()
+        for li in o:
+            if 'license' in li:
+                repo.add(DisjunctiveLicense.from_json(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+                    li['license']))
+            elif 'expression' in li:
+                repo.add(LicenseExpression.from_json(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+                    li
+                ))
+            else:
+                raise CycloneDxDeserializationException(f'unexpected: {li!r}')
+        return repo
+
+    @classmethod
+    def xml_normalize(cls, o: LicenseRepository, *,
+                      element_name: str,
+                      view: Optional[Type[serializable.ViewType]],
+                      xmlns: Optional[str],
+                      **__: Any) -> Optional[Element]:
+        if len(o) == 0:
+            return None
+        elem = Element(element_name)
+        expression = next((li for li in o if isinstance(li, LicenseExpression)), None)
+        if expression:
+            # mixed license expression and license? this is an invalid constellation according to schema!
+            # see https://github.com/CycloneDX/specification/pull/205
+            # but models need to allow it for backwards compatibility with JSON CDX < 1.5
+            elem.append(expression.as_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+                view_=view, as_string=False, element_name='expression', xmlns=xmlns))
+        else:
+            elem.extend(
+                li.as_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+                    view_=view, as_string=False, element_name='license', xmlns=xmlns)
+                for li in o
+                if isinstance(li, DisjunctiveLicense)
+            )
+        return elem
+
+    @classmethod
+    def xml_denormalize(cls, o: Element,
+                        default_ns: Optional[str],
+                        **__: Any) -> LicenseRepository:
+        repo = LicenseRepository()
+        for li in o:
+            tag = li.tag if default_ns is None else li.tag.replace(f'{{{default_ns}}}', '')
+            if tag == 'license':
+                repo.add(DisjunctiveLicense.from_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+                    li, default_ns))
+            elif tag == 'expression':
+                repo.add(LicenseExpression.from_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
+                    li, default_ns))
+            else:
+                raise CycloneDxDeserializationException(f'unexpected: {li!r}')
+        return repo
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/service.py b/cyclonedx/model/service.py
index 9e6af564..7f648386 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/service.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/service.py
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@
 import serializable
 from sortedcontainers import SortedSet
 
-from cyclonedx.serialization import BomRefHelper, LicenseRepositoryHelper
-
 from .._internal.bom_ref import bom_ref_from_str as _bom_ref_from_str
 from .._internal.compare import ComparableTuple as _ComparableTuple
 from ..schema.schema import SchemaVersion1Dot3, SchemaVersion1Dot4, SchemaVersion1Dot5, SchemaVersion1Dot6
@@ -38,7 +36,7 @@
 from .bom_ref import BomRef
 from .contact import OrganizationalEntity
 from .dependency import Dependable
-from .license import License, LicenseRepository
+from .license import License, LicenseRepository, _LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper
 from .release_note import ReleaseNotes
 
 
@@ -87,7 +85,7 @@ def __init__(
 
     @property
     @serializable.json_name('bom-ref')
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_attribute()
     @serializable.xml_name('bom-ref')
     def bom_ref(self) -> BomRef:
@@ -263,7 +261,7 @@ def data(self, data: Iterable[DataClassification]) -> None:
         self._data = SortedSet(data)
 
     @property
-    @serializable.type_mapping(LicenseRepositoryHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(_LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper)
     @serializable.xml_sequence(11)
     def licenses(self) -> LicenseRepository:
         """
diff --git a/cyclonedx/model/vulnerability.py b/cyclonedx/model/vulnerability.py
index 0b7cdc1d..19905ddf 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/model/vulnerability.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/model/vulnerability.py
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 from .._internal.compare import ComparableTuple as _ComparableTuple
 from ..exception.model import MutuallyExclusivePropertiesException, NoPropertiesProvidedException
 from ..schema.schema import SchemaVersion1Dot4, SchemaVersion1Dot5, SchemaVersion1Dot6
-from ..serialization import BomRefHelper
 from . import Property, XsUri
 from .bom_ref import BomRef
 from .contact import OrganizationalContact, OrganizationalEntity
@@ -982,7 +981,7 @@ def __init__(
 
     @property
     @serializable.json_name('bom-ref')
-    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRefHelper)
+    @serializable.type_mapping(BomRef)
     @serializable.xml_attribute()
     @serializable.xml_name('bom-ref')
     def bom_ref(self) -> BomRef:
diff --git a/cyclonedx/serialization/__init__.py b/cyclonedx/serialization/__init__.py
index 427d0bf6..34489b28 100644
--- a/cyclonedx/serialization/__init__.py
+++ b/cyclonedx/serialization/__init__.py
@@ -20,10 +20,8 @@
 Set of helper classes for use with ``serializable`` when conducting (de-)serialization.
 """
 
-from json import loads as json_loads
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Optional, Type
+from typing import Any, Optional
 from uuid import UUID
-from xml.etree.ElementTree import Element  # nosec B405
 
 # See https://github.com/package-url/packageurl-python/issues/65
 from packageurl import PackageURL
@@ -31,29 +29,25 @@
 
 from ..exception.serialization import CycloneDxDeserializationException, SerializationOfUnexpectedValueException
 from ..model.bom_ref import BomRef
-from ..model.license import DisjunctiveLicense, LicenseExpression, LicenseRepository
-
-if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
-    from serializable import ViewType
+from ..model.license import _LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper
 
 
 class BomRefHelper(BaseHelper):
+    """**DEPRECATED** in favour of :class:`BomRef`.
+
+    .. deprecated:: 8.6
+       Use :class:`BomRef` instead.
+    """
+
+    # TODO: remove, no longer needed
 
     @classmethod
     def serialize(cls, o: Any) -> Optional[str]:
-        if isinstance(o, BomRef):
-            return o.value
-        raise SerializationOfUnexpectedValueException(
-            f'Attempt to serialize a non-BomRef: {o!r}')
+        return BomRef.serialize(o)
 
     @classmethod
     def deserialize(cls, o: Any) -> BomRef:
-        try:
-            return BomRef(value=str(o))
-        except ValueError as err:
-            raise CycloneDxDeserializationException(
-                f'BomRef string supplied does not parse: {o!r}'
-            ) from err
+        return BomRef.deserialize(o)
 
 
 class PackageUrl(BaseHelper):
@@ -94,82 +88,13 @@ def deserialize(cls, o: Any) -> UUID:
             ) from err
 
 
-class LicenseRepositoryHelper(BaseHelper):
-    @classmethod
-    def json_normalize(cls, o: LicenseRepository, *,
-                       view: Optional[Type['ViewType']],
-                       **__: Any) -> Any:
-        if len(o) == 0:
-            return None
-        expression = next((li for li in o if isinstance(li, LicenseExpression)), None)
-        if expression:
-            # mixed license expression and license? this is an invalid constellation according to schema!
-            # see https://github.com/CycloneDX/specification/pull/205
-            # but models need to allow it for backwards compatibility with JSON CDX < 1.5
-            return [json_loads(expression.as_json(view_=view))]  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-        return [
-            {'license': json_loads(
-                li.as_json(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-                    view_=view)
-            )}
-            for li in o
-            if isinstance(li, DisjunctiveLicense)
-        ]
+class LicenseRepositoryHelper(_LicenseRepositorySerializationHelper):
+    """**DEPRECATED**
 
-    @classmethod
-    def json_denormalize(cls, o: List[Dict[str, Any]],
-                         **__: Any) -> LicenseRepository:
-        repo = LicenseRepository()
-        for li in o:
-            if 'license' in li:
-                repo.add(DisjunctiveLicense.from_json(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-                    li['license']))
-            elif 'expression' in li:
-                repo.add(LicenseExpression.from_json(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-                    li
-                ))
-            else:
-                raise CycloneDxDeserializationException(f'unexpected: {li!r}')
-        return repo
+    .. deprecated:: 8.6
+       No public API planned for replacing this,
+    """
 
-    @classmethod
-    def xml_normalize(cls, o: LicenseRepository, *,
-                      element_name: str,
-                      view: Optional[Type['ViewType']],
-                      xmlns: Optional[str],
-                      **__: Any) -> Optional[Element]:
-        if len(o) == 0:
-            return None
-        elem = Element(element_name)
-        expression = next((li for li in o if isinstance(li, LicenseExpression)), None)
-        if expression:
-            # mixed license expression and license? this is an invalid constellation according to schema!
-            # see https://github.com/CycloneDX/specification/pull/205
-            # but models need to allow it for backwards compatibility with JSON CDX < 1.5
-            elem.append(expression.as_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-                view_=view, as_string=False, element_name='expression', xmlns=xmlns))
-        else:
-            elem.extend(
-                li.as_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-                    view_=view, as_string=False, element_name='license', xmlns=xmlns)
-                for li in o
-                if isinstance(li, DisjunctiveLicense)
-            )
-        return elem
+    # TODO: remove, no longer needed
 
-    @classmethod
-    def xml_denormalize(cls, o: Element,
-                        default_ns: Optional[str],
-                        **__: Any) -> LicenseRepository:
-        repo = LicenseRepository()
-        for li in o:
-            tag = li.tag if default_ns is None else li.tag.replace(f'{{{default_ns}}}', '')
-            if tag == 'license':
-                repo.add(DisjunctiveLicense.from_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-                    li, default_ns))
-            elif tag == 'expression':
-                repo.add(LicenseExpression.from_xml(  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
-                    li, default_ns))
-            else:
-                raise CycloneDxDeserializationException(f'unexpected: {li!r}')
-        return repo
+    pass