before checking if it is really a special character issue let's try refreshing the picklists translations as this is usually the error for the "not equals" to not be working.
- go to corebos updater module
- search for "picklist_translations" in the "file name" field
- open the picklist_translations record detail view
- click on "unblock"
- click on "undo"
- click on "apply"
Joe
TSolucio
TSolucio