Most items seized from Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch during police searches must be returned to the pop star, the Superior Court has ruled.

The items to be returned include pornographic magazines, books and computer hard drives, but not photographs of the singer's genitalia, taken as evidence during a 1993-94 probe into charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy, the California newspaper Lompoc Record reported.

Judge Rodney Melville, who ruled the case, has agreed with Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon that a prior order dictates that those images must remain locked in a safe deposit box.

The photographs were not used in the prosecution of Jackson on child molestation and other felony charges. The trial ended June 13 in Jackson's acquittal on all 10 criminal counts.

Melville ruled that items seized from Neverland and not entered into evidence, including about nine computers, should be returned.

Jackson's defence lawyers had petitioned for the return of all items seized.