diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-ai-modelcard-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-ai-modelcard-2.0.schema.json
index df877229f..ef79ee3b0 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-ai-modelcard-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-ai-modelcard-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-ai-modelcard-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX AI Model Card Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-annotation-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-annotation-2.0.schema.json
index 1b69ebe82..31f11a1c0 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-annotation-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-annotation-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-annotation-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Annotation Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-behavior-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-behavior-2.0.schema.json
index 0724e8e40..f65daa141 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-behavior-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-behavior-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-behavior-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Behavior Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-blueprint-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-blueprint-2.0.schema.json
index 49d241545..2efa5412a 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-blueprint-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-blueprint-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-blueprint-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Blueprint Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-business-objective-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-business-objective-2.0.schema.json
index 14014b568..13f226c82 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-business-objective-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-business-objective-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-business-objective-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Business Objective Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-certification-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-certification-2.0.schema.json
index 628a96af1..bf5837492 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-certification-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-certification-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-certification-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Certification Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-citation-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-citation-2.0.schema.json
index 7c95aca46..48761fae2 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-citation-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-citation-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-citation-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Citation Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-common-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-common-2.0.schema.json
index 07e52f578..0a0c7cd08 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-common-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-common-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-common-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Common Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-component-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-component-2.0.schema.json
index 236b485a2..1e6f4f8b9 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-component-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-component-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-component-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Component Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-composition-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-composition-2.0.schema.json
index 087ae521f..893056238 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-composition-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-composition-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-composition-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Composition Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-control-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-control-2.0.schema.json
index 1110dcb0c..ee9a670e6 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-control-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-control-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-control-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Control Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-cryptography-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-cryptography-2.0.schema.json
index 67ae7de73..efa2150cc 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-cryptography-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-cryptography-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-cryptography-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Cryptography Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-data-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-data-2.0.schema.json
index 862dbe935..f83af7926 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-data-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-data-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-data-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Data Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-declaration-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-declaration-2.0.schema.json
index 25f4ff655..4b8e782e5 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-declaration-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-declaration-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-declaration-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Declaration Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-definition-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-definition-2.0.schema.json
index 81f9570db..c5dcf44c2 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-definition-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-definition-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-definition-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Definition Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-dependency-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-dependency-2.0.schema.json
index 579c4f900..1482a437f 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-dependency-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-dependency-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-dependency-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Dependency Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-evidence-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-evidence-2.0.schema.json
index 4a7da915d..f38fed97e 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-evidence-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-evidence-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-evidence-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Evidence Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-formulation-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-formulation-2.0.schema.json
index dd488b656..581364f62 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-formulation-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-formulation-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-formulation-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Formulation Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-jss_X590_2023_10-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-jss_X590_2023_10-2.0.schema.json
index 845e00f1e..a08d20f6c 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-jss_X590_2023_10-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-jss_X590_2023_10-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-jss_X590_2023_10-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Module for JSON Signature Scheme (JSS)",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "description": "JSON Schema implementing ITU-T X.590 (10/2023) – JSON Signature Scheme (JSS). Defines the structure for digitally signing JSON objects while keeping the payload in JSON format. Supports single signatures, multiple independent signatures, and chained counter-signatures. Intended for use as a $defs import in CycloneDX 2.0.",
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-license-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-license-2.0.schema.json
index adf4aa18d..91763ca9f 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-license-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-license-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-license-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX License Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-metadata-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-metadata-2.0.schema.json
index 27fdb71f5..484d4e809 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-metadata-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-metadata-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-metadata-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Metadata Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-party-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-party-2.0.schema.json
index ded994c7b..f23052e11 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-party-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-party-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-party-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Party Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-patent-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-patent-2.0.schema.json
index ae317f624..438ee06dc 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-patent-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-patent-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-patent-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Patent Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-perspective-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-perspective-2.0.schema.json
index 36d9a0faa..401cf24a9 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-perspective-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-perspective-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-perspective-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Perspective Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-physical-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-physical-2.0.schema.json
index df084f329..10b09b8ec 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-physical-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-physical-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-physical-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Physical Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-profile-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-profile-2.0.schema.json
index 3adf53bfe..9c38cb318 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-profile-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-profile-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-profile-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Profile Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-release-notes-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-release-notes-2.0.schema.json
index 916f4d2cc..4aba81324 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-release-notes-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-release-notes-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-release-notes-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Release Notes Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-requirement-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-requirement-2.0.schema.json
index 8fd140afa..6e7e6afc3 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-requirement-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-requirement-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-requirement-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Engineering Requirement Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-risk-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-risk-2.0.schema.json
index 30eda315d..9969a52d1 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-risk-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-risk-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-risk-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Risk Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-standard-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-standard-2.0.schema.json
index 659a129c4..f50eaee3c 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-standard-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-standard-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-standard-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Standard Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-threat-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-threat-2.0.schema.json
index 345170c6c..2208cacf5 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-threat-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-threat-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-threat-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Threat Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-usecase-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-usecase-2.0.schema.json
index 085748eb7..1e171a292 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-usecase-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-usecase-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-usecase-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Use Case Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-vulnerability-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-vulnerability-2.0.schema.json
index d67385ee1..6a7464c3e 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-vulnerability-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-vulnerability-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-vulnerability-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Vulnerability Module",
   "$comment" : "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-weakness-2.0.schema.json b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-weakness-2.0.schema.json
index de8f81325..22568ada3 100644
--- a/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-weakness-2.0.schema.json
+++ b/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-weakness-2.0.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
   "$id": "https://cyclonedx.org/schema/2.0/modules/cyclonedx-weakness-2.0.schema.json",
-  "type": "null",
+  "not": { "$comment": "This schema provides definitions only and is not intended for direct validation or instantiation." },
   "title": "CycloneDX Weakness Module",
   "$comment": "OWASP CycloneDX is an Ecma International standard (ECMA-424) developed in collaboration between the OWASP Foundation and Ecma Technical Committee 54 (TC54). The standard is published under a royalty-free patent policy. This JSON schema is the reference implementation and is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.",
   "$defs": {
diff --git a/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-property-order.check.js b/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-property-order.check.js
index c942a5275..65f36819d 100644
--- a/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-property-order.check.js
+++ b/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-property-order.check.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { LintCheck, registerCheck, Severity } from '../index.js';
 /**
  * Property order for module schemas
  */
-const ORDER = ['$schema', '$id', 'type', 'title', '$comment', 'description', '$defs'];
+const ORDER = ['$schema', '$id', 'not', 'title', '$comment', 'description', '$defs'];
 /**
  * Which of the ordered properties are optional.
  */
diff --git a/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-structure.check.js b/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-structure.check.js
index c1cc7b69a..16fc9a021 100644
--- a/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-structure.check.js
+++ b/tools/src/main/js/linter/checks/module-structure.check.js
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@
 
 import { LintCheck, registerCheck, Severity } from '../index.js';
 
+function isEmptySchema(value) {
+  if (typeof value !== 'object' || value === null || Array.isArray(value)) {
+    // not a schema
+    return false;
+  }
+  const keys = new Set(Object.keys(value));
+  keys.delete('$comment'); // delete keys that don't define a schema
+  return keys.size === 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * Check that validates module schema structure
  */
@@ -21,7 +31,7 @@ class ModuleStructureCheck extends LintCheck {
     super(
       'module-structure',
       'Module Structure',
-      'Validates that module schemas have type "null", $defs, and no properties.',
+      'Validates that module schemas have "not:{}", $defs, and no type nor properties.',
       Severity.ERROR
     );
   }
@@ -35,18 +45,20 @@ class ModuleStructureCheck extends LintCheck {
       return issues; // Not a module schema, skip
     }
 
-    // Check type must be "null"
-    if (!('type' in schema)) {
+    // Check root is not usable
+    // `not: {}` rejects every instance, so the container is unusable on its own;
+    // unlike `false` it can still hold `$defs`, and unlike `not: true` it is valid in draft-04.
+    if (!('not' in schema)) {
       issues.push(this.createIssue(
-        'Module schema is missing required "type" property.',
-        '$.type',
-        { expected: 'null' }
+        'Module schema is missing required "not" property.',
+        '$.not',
+        { expected: {} }
       ));
-    } else if (schema.type !== 'null') {
+    } else if (!isEmptySchema(schema.not)) {
       issues.push(this.createIssue(
-        `Module schema "type" must be "null", found "${schema.type}".`,
-        '$.type',
-        { actual: schema.type, expected: 'null' }
+        `Module schema "not" must be an empty schema, found ${JSON.stringify(schema.not)}".`,
+        '$.not',
+        { actual: schema.not, expected: {} }
       ));
     }
 
@@ -59,6 +71,14 @@ class ModuleStructureCheck extends LintCheck {
       ));
     }
 
+    // Check properties must not exist at root level
+    if ('type' in schema) {
+      issues.push(this.createIssue(
+        'Module schema must not have "type" at root level.',
+        '$.type'
+      ));
+    }
+
     // Check properties must not exist at root level
     if ('properties' in schema) {
       issues.push(this.createIssue(