Rule Definition
Hiding is all about polymorphism. This means that the OO designer expects to override methods and use polymorphism so that code calling methods through a base class will end up executing different methods depending on the instance being used. This is not the case with static methods. When static methods are called, there is no polymorphism in play. It is always the static method of the type used to reference the object used that is called. Hiding static methods is a misuse of OO practices that results in misunderstanding of what is going to be executed at runtime and thus leads to unexpected behavior, jeopardizing the stability of the application.

Remediation
Review the design of the Method

Violation Code Sample

class Foo {     public static void classMethod() {         System.out.println("classMethod() in Foo");     }       public void instanceMethod() {         System.out.println("instanceMethod() in Foo");     } }   class Bar extends Foo {     public static void classMethod() {         System.out.println("classMethod() in Bar");     }       public void instanceMethod() {         System.out.println("instanceMethod() in Bar");     } }    class Test {     public static void main(String[] args) {         Foo f = new Bar();         f.instanceMethod();         f.classMethod();     } }  // If you run this, the output is // instanceMethod() in Bar // classMethod() in Foo

Fixed Code Sample

class Foo {     public static void classMethod() {         System.out.println("classMethod() in Foo");     }       public void instanceMethod() {         System.out.println("instanceMethod() in Foo");     } }   class Bar extends Foo {     //Simply not override the static (class) methods: classMethod.       public void instanceMethod() {         System.out.println("instanceMethod() in Bar");     } }    class Test {     public static void main(String[] args) {         Foo f = new Bar();         f.instanceMethod();                  //Rather than writing:         //f.classMethod();                  //It would be better coding style to write either:         Foo.classMethod();     } }

http://faq.javaranch.com/view?OverridingVsHiding