title: Factory Pattern - CreateInstance static or not?
body: <p>This is about the Factory Pattern. I am a little confused.</p>
  
  <p>I saw implementations where the <code>createInstance()</code> method is static and some implementations that are non-static.</p>
  
  <p>Some say it's depending on "style" or "taste" and some say it does not. 
  Wikipedia says that it should be non-static, and <a href="http://www.dofactory.com/Patterns/PatternFactory.aspx" rel="noreferrer">http://www.dofactory.com/Patterns/PatternFactory.aspx</a> also says that it should be non-static, according to the Gang of Four.</p>
  
  <p>My question is: does it depend on style &amp; taste or does it violate the Factory Pattern if it's implemented the static way? What's right?</p>