*       static factory method whose return type is {@code cls} or {@code cls}'s subtype.
   *   <li>Inequality check is not performed against state mutation methods such as {@link
   *       List#add}, or functional update methods such as {@link
   *       com.google.common.base.Joiner#skipNulls}.
   * </ul>
   *

   *       static factory method whose return type is {@code cls} or {@code cls}'s subtype.
   *   <li>Inequality check is not performed against state mutation methods such as {@link
   *       List#add}, or functional update methods such as {@link
   *       com.google.common.base.Joiner#skipNulls}.
   * </ul>
   *