Justice Winkelmann will meet with lawyers on both sides on July 4.

Dotcom's San Francisco-based lawyer Ira Rothken told The Dominion Post he did not know what impact the ruling would have on an extradition hearing due to be held in Auckland on August 6.

"We are pleased the court ruled the US acted illegally by taking the hard drives offshore," he said.

However, when asked whether he believed the US Government would return the illegally seized information, he said: "We will analyse the [US] Government's conduct in light of this ruling."

The police have released the following statement in response to Justice Winkelmann's ruling: "The Police are considering the judgement and are in discussions with Crown Law to determine what further action might be required. Police will not be making any comment on the judgement until that process is complete."