I have a problem with HTML case fraction. Normally I would expect "&fract12;" to render ½. However it does not. I'm using tinyMCE editor where it displays correct. On the website itself it does not. The Theme (paradigm) uses printImageDesc() to display the text.
Example: http://paledog.de/Automobile/vintage/1930-bentley-6-litre-speed-six-tourer_rear.jpg.html
I think the problem is that i use the source code option to edit the text. In some Image Titles it works without a problem.
Have you tried to add the fraction code in TinyMCE's source view?
Edit: I can reproduce that. Seems some double encoding. Quick fix change the theme to use echo getImageDesc() instead. print function do html encoding generally indeed but not sure why this happens with these chars.