Disney owning Miramax was something of a surprise to me when I first heard about it, considering the diametrically oppositional nature of the products of the two studios. It's a situation a lot like having a front corporation for criminal enterprises, except in reverse.
That's exactly the point. By owning Miramax, Disney is allowed to produce (and get returns) from projects that they couldn't do as "Disney" and keep the identity of that brand. It happens everywhere. Toyota made the Lexus brand to compete with BMW and Mercedes in the States, because no one would pay $40,000 for a Toyota, regardless of how good a car they build.
Same with, I believe, Touchstone, as having an adult movie with
DISNEY isn't a good direction; just like how Nintendo didn't approve of Conker's Bad Fur Day, even when they didn't publish it.
